The U.S.Judicial Conference has proposed a new amendment to federal criminal proceedings effectively turning web anonymity into reasonable suspicion.

Beginning on Thursday, December 1st, the power granted to U.S. law enforcement agencies to access the computers and phones of its citizens will be expanded. The new powers allow authorities to more easily gain a warrant to remotely access the computers of those people suspected of using technological means to hide their location. This expansion is being resisted by members of the U.S. Congress, but the deadline may pass before legislation can reverse the change.

An Expansion to Procedure

Those in the U.S. who use privacy protection tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs) or the Tor browser will soon find themselves subject to federal surveillance. If one user uses a VPN to conduct illegal activities and another user accesses the same VPN for legal activities, it is not easy to tell which user engaged in which activity. This creates a VPN user could be held responsible for a different user’s crimes. An expansion to federal criminal procedures would allow the FBI, CIA, and other authorities to search networks whose users may be suspected in crimes where a suspect has web anonymity, such as via VPN.

Presently, the federal criminal procedure requires the FBI to get a warrant from a federal judge within the federal judicial district of whatever system they wish to access. With the new amendment that takes effect at midnight on December 1, 2016, authorities will be able to acquire a search warrant from any judge located anywhere in the country.

The new rule change specifically targets the use of encryption and disabled location tracking. In short, it targets web anonymity. An additional clause would allow the granting of mass warrants to search those who have been victims of botnets or malware.

The amendment comes from the Judicial Conference, which has the authority to change the rules governing criminal proceedings, but there are voices urging caution that may bring the issue to a debate. Opposing forces wish to safeguard web anonymity.

A bipartisan group from the U.S. Congress is pushing legislation to either block or delay the changes until July 1, 2017.

“Currently, a certain piece of legislation (named the “Stop Mass Hacking Act“) is the only thing standing between this amendment and ratification.”

The Clock is Ticking

The bills being proposed in congress may still be passed after the rule change takes effect, but there is pressure on legislators to act quickly. If the amendment isn’t postponed, then federal authorities will have time to make use of the changes, something that makes many citizens nervous with regards to their web anonymity.

But the decision ultimately lies in the hands of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Currently, a certain piece of legislation (named the “Stop Mass Hacking Act“) is the only thing standing between this amendment and ratification. The new amendment’s opposition will need the support of more senators than it currently has in order to be passed.

The Future of Web Anonymity

Whether the amendment is blocked or merely delayed remains to be seen, but the outcome will likely have a profound effect on the current debate surrounding Internet privacy.

In response to this, private organizations such as Fight For The Future are urging citizens to contact their senators to urge them to block the amendment.