"The U.S. government wants to use an obscure procedure—amending a federal rule known as Rule 41— to radically expand their authority to hack," the EFF says. "The changes to Rule 41 would make it easier for them to break into our computers, take data, and engage in remote surveillance.
We are asking users to join our campaign against changes in Rule 41 that will expand government hacking: https://t.co/CCOibsvoUg
— EFF (@EFF) June 21, 2016
Rainey Reitman of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) tells Boing Boing,
EFF, Tor, and Freedom of the Press Foundation are running a campaign to raise awareness about pending changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. In short, this rule change will make it easier for law enforcement to get warrants to hack into computers and engage in remote surveillance (i.e. taking over a device and using it to surveil a target).
Senator Wyden has said this rule change will result in judges granting a single search warrant that can be used to remotely search thousands of computers, and that for the first time ever judges will be letting law enforcement hack into the devices of botnet victims.
It's all getting pushed through an obscure procedural process, not legislation, so if Congress does nothing it will automatically go into effect on December 1.
Learn how you can support the fight at noglobalwarrants.org.
#Rule41 changes are terrible for security & liberty. Today's the day to act at https://t.co/PHp0LppYB8 #SMHacthttps://t.co/wDTK5kIUHC
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) June 21, 2016
Changing #Rule41 will harm the security of all internet users. Tell Congress to block the changes https://t.co/bTBezxVoXW
— ACLU National (@ACLU) June 21, 2016
Tor Executive Director @ssteele1234 on the proposed changes to Rule 41. Take Action: https://t.co/qLat79I7Jq #SMHAct pic.twitter.com/e8iBC2pC35
— torproject (@torproject) June 21, 2016