Staff Reports
During the Biden administration, there are concerns about the FBI and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) overstepping their bounds and violating Americans’ rights. Some believe these actions were politically motivated, particularly targeting conservative supporters of former President Trump.
A House Judiciary Committee investigation reveals that these agencies have abused their access to private financial information of Americans. The investigation uncovered warrantless and widespread surveillance efforts by the government, raising alarm bells about privacy breaches.
”You’re telling me we don’t know what the h*ll these drones are in New Jersey are? Is that correct?” – Congressman Gonzales
”That’s right.” – Assistant Director of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group Robert Wheeler Jr.
Public hearing going on right now about the current… pic.twitter.com/PPSpJ15eYi
— Andreas (@andadsson) December 10, 2024
The FBI has reportedly used laws like the Bank Secrecy Act to conduct invasive operations without proper legal processes. They have been scrutinizing private financial data to potentially identify individuals as national security threats, using terms like “MAGA” and “Trump” and even tracking purchases of firearms or religious texts as indicators of extremism.
A press release from Rep. Greg Steube’s office states that several major banks are under investigation for their involvement in a supposed plot with the FBI and FinCEN to spy on Americans’ private banking transactions without obtaining warrants first. This kind of surveillance raises concerns about the erosion of privacy and constitutional rights.
The investigation also reveals that the government has access to a vast amount of Americans’ private financial data through programs like the FinCEN Query program. This widespread access, without proper oversight and legal processes, poses a significant threat to individual freedoms and rights.
In addition to concerns about the abuse of financial surveillance, there are worries about the use of new technologies like digital ID and AI to monitor and record financial transactions. These advances raise questions about the potential for misuse and violation of privacy rights.
Overall, the reports of government overreach in financial surveillance highlight the need for stricter oversight and protection of Americans’ privacy rights. The collaboration between government agencies and financial institutions to target individuals based on their beliefs and purchases is a troubling trend that goes against the principles of freedom and privacy.
