DHS exploits customs law to obtain private records without judicial approval
The Department of Homeland Security has used an obscure customs law to obtain private records from tech and telecom companies without judicial approval. In one case, a journalist's phone records were obtained without her knowledge. Critics describe the practice as an outrageous overreach of government power.
EXPANDED:
The customs statute, 19 USC 1509, grants DHS broad inspection powers over records to verify proper collection of import duties.
Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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Original headline: “Trump’s DHS is using an obscure law to secretly snoop on journalists, non-profits and unions: ‘It’s outrageous’.” Browse more stories.