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FBI obtained records 'illegally' | FBI obtained records 'illegally' |
(20 minutes later) | |
The FBI has been illegally obtaining information on the US public, a report by the justice department's inspector general has said. | The FBI has been illegally obtaining information on the US public, a report by the justice department's inspector general has said. |
The FBI used the Patriot Act, passed after the 11 September 2001 attacks, to compel the release of information illegally or improperly, it said. | |
It said most of the errors were through poor record-keeping or agent mistakes rather than criminal misconduct. | It said most of the errors were through poor record-keeping or agent mistakes rather than criminal misconduct. |
The errors were "unacceptable" and would be corrected, the FBI said. | |
Rise in requests | |
The 126-page report by inspector general Glenn Fine said in some cases agents had failed to get the proper authorisation to obtain personal data. | |
In others they sought the data in non-emergency situations. | |
"We believe the improper or illegal uses we found involve serious misuses of national security letter authorities," it concluded. | |
The Patriot Act allowed for the use of such national security letters, or administrative subpoenas, in cases relating to spying or terrorism. | |
While we've already taken some steps to address these shortcomings, I am ordering additional corrective measures to be taken immediately Robert Mueller, FBI director | |
Under such a subpoena, personal records of clients and customers must be handed over to the FBI from such sources as banks, telephone firms and internet service providers. | |
The report said national security letter requests had risen from 39,000 in 2003 to about 56,000 in 2004 before falling back to about 47,000 in 2005. | |
In a review of field office files, the report found that 22% of the cases it investigated contained one or more possible unreported or unidentified violations. | |
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales praised the report and said he had told FBI director Robert Mueller past mistakes would "not be tolerated". | |
Mr Mueller said the deficiencies were "unacceptable". | |
"While we've already taken some steps to address these shortcomings, I am ordering additional corrective measures to be taken immediately," he said. |
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