WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A last-ditch effort in the Senate to block or delay rule changes that would expand the U.S. government's hacking powers failed Wednesday, despite concerns the changes would jeopardize the privacy rights of innocent Americans and risk possible abuse by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden attempted three times to delay the changes, which will take effect on Thursday and allow U.S. judges will be able to issue search warrants that give the FBI the authority to remotely access computers in any jurisdiction, potentially even overseas. His efforts were blocked by Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the Senate's second-ranking Republican.

complete article linked below

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I've read and reread this report several times, and here's where I could use some legitimate input from those more up to speed on the big picture of surveillance.

How is this different from the existing questions of privacy and protection from intrusive surveillance already in play by organizations ranging from the NSA to the big brother cookies every ad website relies upon and even to Amazon's Alexa or Google's new Home AI module?
 
Please, spare me the insults and partisan bullshit. I've got no stomach for it today.

It seems to me we crossed this line long ago, maybe even as far back as post 9/11 with the Patriot Act. What am I missing here?  


-- Modified on 11/30/2016 3:52:51 PM