Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA).

["Hamaker, Chuck" <cahamake@email.uncc.edu>]

Diverse groups oppose security proposal 
http://news.com.com/2100-1028-992984.html
     By Declan McCullagh 
     Staff Writer, CNET News.com
     March 17, 2003, 6:24 PM PT

WASHINGTON--A broad coalition of nearly 70 groups is attempting to block a
Bush administration proposal ..

In a letter sent to Congress on Monday, the coalition urges politicians to
oppose draft legislation prepared by the U.S. Justice Department and
called the Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA). Critics have dubbed
it the USA Patriot Act II...

...coalition includes groups as varied as the American Civil Liberties
Union, the American Conservative Union, the Gun Owners of America, the
American Baptist Churches, the U.S. Presbyterian Church and the Mennonite
Central Committee. Immigrant-rights groups, librarians and civil rights
groups also signed the letter.

... DSEA would, if enacted, create a new federal felony of willfully using
encryption during the commission of a felony, punishable by "no more than
five years" in prison plus a hefty fine.

It also would let the FBI and state police monitor--without a court order
for up to 48 hours--what Web sites a suspect visits, what that person
searches for with Google or on other sites and the people with whom he or
she communicates via e-mail. Those relaxed eavesdropping standards would
apply to Americans suspected of what would become a new offense of
"activities threatening the national security interest."

...

If someone were suspected of routine computer hacking, police would be
able to ask a judge to issue search warrants valid for anywhere in the
United States. Currently that law applies only to "violent acts or acts
dangerous to human life."

When investigating a computer crime or other serious felonies, prosecutors
would be able to serve secret subpoenas on people, ordering them to hand
over evidence and testify in person. If served with a secret subpoena, the
recipient would be barred from disclosing its existence.  DSEA would also
remove legal barriers limiting police from perusing credit reports.

The DSEA has not formally been introduced in Congress.
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