US tightens surveillance laws

The sweeping changes are the result of 11 September

By Barnaby Mason BBC Diplomatic correspondent

After a controversial court ruling in the United States, the Justice Department has announced measures to intensify the use of secret surveillance against suspected terrorists and spies.

A special intelligence court ruled that the authorities did have the right to use broader powers granted by Congress after the 11 September attacks.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the measures would lift constitutional protections in order to listen in to phone calls, read e-mails and conduct secret searches

But civil liberties campaigners condemned the ruling, saying it would allow the government to spy on American citizens with few restrictions.

A new blow in the fight against terrorism, or another step in undermining liberties guaranteed by the US constitution? Take your pick.

After the 11 September attacks, American security agencies were severely criticised for failing to spot the significance of bits of information that might have prevented them.

Plugging intelligence gaps

According to the Attorney-General, John Ashcroft, the court ruling will help the agencies put the pieces together.

He described it as a giant step forward that revolutionised their ability to investigate and prosecute terrorists.

In particular, the ruling allows intelligence investigators to share information with criminal prosecutors.

Mr Ashcroft announced immediate steps to speed up the use of electronic and other surveillance:

• A special intelligence prosecutor will be designated in every federal court district.

• A computer system will be developed to get rapid court approval of wiretaps.

• And the FBI will create a new unit to seek intelligence warrants.

Bush administration officials denied that the ruling would permit a wider range of suspects to be bugged.

'Dismantling basic rights'

But the American Civil Liberties Union said it would allow the attorney-general to suspend constitutional protections in order to listen in to phone calls, read e-mails and conduct secret searches of homes and offices.

One Democratic Congressman, John Conyers of Michigan, said the ruling was despicable - that the administration was dismantling basic rights piece by piece.

Another area of criticism was that the ruling was issued by a special intelligence court, an appeals panel of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that sits in secret and did not publish its judgement in full.

Since the government was the only party to the case, there is no direct way anyone else can appeal against the decision.