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CNN Live Today

FBI Introduces Sweeping Changes

Aired May 30, 2002 - 14:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The Justice Department is going to be holding a news conference about new investigative guidelines to help the FBI prevent terrorist attacks right here in the United States. CNN is going to carry that live, but our justice correspondent Kelli Arena broke the news about FBI reforms days ago, and she's with us from Washington now to preview what's coming up here at 2:30.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, in just about half-an-hour, more changes will be announced for the FBI. Now, these changes will directly affect how an agent behaves in the field. New justice guidelines will give agents more latitude, easing restrictions on domestic surveillance on individuals.

Now, currently, information cannot be gathered on an individual unless they are subject to a criminal investigation. The new guidelines also give field officers more authority to open terror investigations and undercover probes, and field offices will now be able to apply for warrants without headquarters approval.

Civil rights groups say the changes are just one more step by the administration to roll back civil liberties protections.

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LAURA MURPHY, ACLU: People who go to places to worship, people who go to libraries, people who are in chat rooms are going to have Big Brother listening in, even though there is no evidence that they are involved in anything illegal whatsoever.

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ARENA: But a Justice Department official says, quote, "what this means is that the FBI will be able to do what any private citizen or any cop on the beat can do, which is go anywhere the public can go for information."

Now, the bottom line: This is all part of the 180-degree turn by the FBI from prosecuting crimes to preventing them -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Sounds good. Thanks for that preview, Kelli.

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