Comment Re:Not sure, if this is much better (Score 3, Insightful) 121
If they need a warrant (from the FISA court) to access the data (just like previously)
Well, if you put the "just like previously" part into your own post, then we aren't disagreeing, that this is not much of an improvement — and that was my premise.
That agreement now established, let's move on to what's wrong with the existing Act — and what's likely to remain wrong even after the proposed amendments are passed...
And the problem with FISA-court is that — unlike all other courts — it does not hear both sides . They may deny the rubber-stamp allegations, but they have only rejected 11 surveillance requests out of 33900 submitted since the court's inception to 2013...
how is it not abiding by the fourth amendment?
I said nothing about the Forth Amendment, actually. Whether it even applies to one's communications is no immediately obvious. No, my claim is not whether Patriot Act violates the Constitution, but whether or not the upcoming changes to it constitute a discernible improvement.
Would you prefer that law enforcement/spy agencies had to be fully tied and unable to conduct investigations?
I would prefer, that the government had no way to force private companies to preemptively record data about me just in case it may be needed by some future investigation.
Without being so forced, some companies may still prefer to do it seeking your business and others may choose not to seeking that of libertines. The existing regulatory mandate — cooperate with the FBI or else — troubles me greatly, and should trouble everyone...