FBI to Expand Domestic Surveillance Powers As Details Emerge of Its Spy Campaign Targeting Activists

By Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
Posted on June 14, 2011, Printed on June 18, 2011

AMY GOODMAN: Civil liberties advocates are raising alarm over news that the FBI is giving agents more leeway to conduct domestic surveillance. According to the New York Times, new guidelines will allow FBI agents to investigate people and organizations "proactively" without firm evidence for suspecting criminal activity. The new rules will free up agents to infiltrate organizations, search household trash, use surveillance teams, search databases, conduct lie detector tests, even without suspicion of any wrongdoing.