Yesterday, the Associated Press reported on three Patriot Act provisions which are set to expire later this year, two of which will be renewed and modified by a House bill (introduced Tuesday). The provision for tracking a “lone wolf” (terror suspect operating independently of any terrorist organization) will be eliminated. Although the Justice Department has requested that the provision remain in effect, the government has not previously used it.
The two provisions that the House bill will renew involve roving wiretaps and court orders for seizure of documents and other tangible objects. Both will be modified to incorporate greater privacy protection. For example – the former provision, used to track terror suspects who switch from phone to phone, will only be applied to single, identifiable suspects.
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