Senate Votes to Allow Law Enforcement Agencies to Access Browser History Without Warrant

The United States Patriot Act expands the powers of US authorities to surveil online activity and electronic devices. The renewal of the act before March 2020 was included in the November stop-gap legislation the following year.

The US Senate passed a bill by a single vote on Thursday that gives government agencies such as the FBI and CIA the right to access citizens browsing history without a warrant.

This means that authorities are not required to have probable cause to believe someone may have committed a crime before requiring their ISP to hand over web browsing and search history records.

https://sputniknews.com/us/202005141079307099-senate-votes-to-allow-law-enforcement-agencies-to-access-browser-history-without-warrant/

>>9182181

McConnell forced a vote. Article says:

The Senate will vote later on Thursday on the third proposed amendment, from Rand Paul, requiring a warrant for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) searches on US citizens.

So it's not over yet…seems they are just legalizing what they have been doing for years.

Don't buy a new smartphone.

Coronavirus surveillance efforts raise ethical questions

Some governments around the world have begun tracking citizens using apps, drones and other high tech methods in an effort to contain the coronavirus. Critics are warning that the surveillance may go too far.

Google and Apple are building "contract tracing" technology into smartphones to track the virus' spread, a move President Trump says he is looking into.

Roxana Saberi speaks to one American University student who says the level of enforcement he faced in his home country of Taiwan was "scary."

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/coronavirus-surveillance-efforts-raise-ethical-questions/

Taiwan's TSMC to build Arizona chip plant as U.S.-China tech rivalry escalates

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (2330.TW), the biggest contract chipmaker, said it plans to build a $12 billion factory in Arizona in an apparent win for the Trump administration’s efforts to wrestle global tech supply chains back from China.

Pompeo says TSMC's $12 billion investment to increase U.S. economic independence from China

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-semiconductors-tsmc/taiwans-tsmc-to-build-arizona-chip-plant-as-u-s-china-tech-rivalry-escalates-idUSKBN22Q38T?il=0

Richard Grenell just RT'd on failure of WHO/China

slow alert of COVID

Georgette Mosbacher

@USAmbPoland

Meanwhile Reuters writes very long article in the defense of WHO, then near bottom states counties coming together for investigations:

“Shot in the arm”

Trump isn’t the only one prodding the WHO. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for an independent review of the outbreak and the WHO’s response. The European Union has proposed a resolution calling for a timely evaluation of the pandemic response, including by the WHO, an idea that’s due to be considered at the WHO’s annual assembly of ministers next week.

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-who-tedros/

Area 51 EQ…Oh Lordy :)

6.4-magnitude earthquake hits Nevada, felt in parts of California

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Nevada early Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The temblor was reported at 4:03 a.m. about 35 miles outside Tonopah, just east of the Sierra Nevada range.

The quake's depth was estimated to be 4.7 miles (7.6 kms) deep.

People from Salt Lake City, Utah, to California's Central Valley tweeted that they felt the quake.

It's unclear if the quake caused any damage or if anyone was injured.

https://abc7.com/64-magnitude-earthquake-hits-nevada-usgs-says/6184997/

Impact of Trump’s unmasking reform:

Number of searches of unmasked Americans phone numbers in NSA database has been cut nearly in half compared to end of Obama era.

The line between lawful unmasking and political spying — and what comes next.

Investigators looking for possible criminality will likely examine leaks, emails, discussions, and timing of unmaskings.

First it is important to understand the law. The NSA is not allowed to intentionally intercept Americans phone calls. But if the agency does so incidentally, it was must keep the name/identity of the Americans minimized or hidden in the databases that are routinely searched by intelligence analysts.

Unmasking is a request to eliminate that protection and identify either the phone records or actual conversations of those Americans.

https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/line-between-lawful-unmasking-and-political-spying-and