Electronic surveillance

US justice department seeks to expand FBI’s hacking powers

A justice department bid to rewrite an arcane rule has critics warning of a dramatic expansion of the FBI’s power to hack suspect computers — no matter where in the world they are located.

Federal prosecutors say the change is needed to keep pace with technology that lets computer users mask their identity and thwart the traditional process for obtaining search warrants. Magistrate judges can usually authorise searches only of property located within their geographic districts. The justice department wants them empowered to approve remote searches of computers anywhere, even outside the US.