A prominent US Senator is standing up against rules to ease FBI surveillance restrictions.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) took to the floor Thursday to press the Senate to pass a law to stop proposed changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The changes would permit US district judges to allow the FBI to search computers located outside of their jurisdiction. The rule change is set to go into effect on December 1.

Wyden's Stop Mass Hacking Act aims to change the rule to prevent judges from allowing warrants outside of their jurisdiction.

"In my view, the limits of search and seizure are unquestionably an issue for Congress to debate," Wyden said.

"The Justice Department should not have the power to change the practical meaning of the Fourth Amendment without the people's elected leaders weighing in." ®