FBI to gain expanded hacking powers as Senate effort to block fails

A last-ditch effort in the Senate to block or delay rule changes that would expand the US government's hacking powers failed Nov 30, despite concerns the changes would jeopardize the privacy rights of innocent Americans and risk possible abuse by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) attempted three times to delay the changes, which will take effect Dec 1 and allow US judges will be able to issue search warrants that give the FBI the authority to remotely access computers in any jurisdiction, potentially even overseas. His efforts were blocked by Sen John Cornyn (R-TX), the Senate's second-ranking Republican. The changes will allow judges to issue warrants in cases when a suspect uses anonymizing technology to conceal the location of his or her computer or for an investigation into a network of hacked or infected computers, such as a botnet. In a speech from the Senate floor, Sen Wyden said that the changes to Rule 41 of the federal rules of criminal procedure amounted to "one of the biggest mistakes in surveillance policy in years."