Authors defend homeland bill's privacy provisions -- The Washington Times

The defense of the legislation yesterday followed objections by a considerable number of privacy advocates who say the bill opens the way for government snooping and, in particular, would lead to an agency tasked with compiling an electronic profile of foreigners and American citizens alike, based on existing information from driver's licenses, e-mail, Internet purchases, telephone and bank records, passport applications and other surveillance data, even including toll-road payments.
The homeland-security legislation passed the House earlier this week with broad bipartisan support. But the bill still has privacy advocates worried about what powers the federal government may try to construe from the bill's language.