by Miles Dyson

Senators Ron Wyden and Rand Paul are calling for a significant overhaul of the U.S. Postal Service’s surveillance policies, which currently allow warrantless monitoring of individuals’ mail on behalf of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The bipartisan duo is raising concerns about the lack of oversight and accountability surrounding the Postal Service’s physical surveillance practices, particularly in contrast to the stricter regulations governing electronic communications.

Both the Oregon Democrat and Kentucky Republican express apprehension about the Postal Service’s utilization of mail covers, a method employed to track information about senders and recipients for various agencies, including the FBI, IRS, Department of Homeland Security, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The senators highlight that the Postal Inspection Service’s regulations merely require a written request for a mail cover, without the need for a court order. In contrast, government agencies must obtain a court order to monitor Americans’ metadata in electronic communications, such as emails or instant messages.

According to Wyden and Paul, tens of thousands of Americans are subjected to Postal Service surveillance each year. While the Postal Service argues that its mail cover program is essential for national security, fugitive apprehension, and collecting evidence related to criminal activities, the senators caution against the potential for abuse and emphasize the significance of protecting individuals’ fundamental rights.

Although mail covers do not disclose the contents of correspondence, they can reveal intimate personal details about individuals' political affiliations, religious beliefs, or causes they support. As a result, the senators argue that surveillance of this nature not only jeopardizes Americans' privacy but also impinges upon their First Amendment rights to freely associate with political or religious organizations and assemble peacefully without government scrutiny.

Wyden and Paul have written a letter to the chief postal inspector, urging the Postal Service to provide an action plan by June 16 that outlines concrete steps to reform its rules and safeguard Americans’ liberties and privacy. The senators emphasize the importance of protecting citizens’ rights and preventing potential abuses associated with mail covers, underscoring the need for greater transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional principles in the Postal Service’s surveillance practices.

Source: washingtontimes.com

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