Can police look to see what websites you access and use the information as probable cause?

Question

I have a friend who is a Criminal Justice major and says that local police have the capability to scan local ip addresses to see if they are accessing websites that contain information on illegal activities. More specifically, he says that if the police were to "catch" you looking at a website that discusses how to grow marijuana, they can use it as probable cause to come to your house and ask questions. Maybe not search your house, but atleast come snoop. He specifically called it probable cause.

Now I am not a law expert, but this sounds rediculous to me.
Should I refrain from reading up on illegal activies for fear of being "looked into" by the local authorities?

I'm not talking about powers given by the Patriot Act. I know they can look into nearly any crevice they want in order to find "enemies of freedom" or "terrorists" or whatever. But I am talking about drug use/ cultivation/ anything illegal that is not a threat to national security.

Answer 1

They don't NEED probable cause to ask you questions. They would need probable cause to find out who was using the IP address at any given time. Many IP addresses are dynamic. That means the IP address I am using now will be used by someone else tomorrow.

Answer 2

Yeah, not happening with local law enforcement.

Wouldn't be a huge surprise on a Federal level. They have admitted to monitoring emails and phone conversations for certain "terrorist buzzwords". I have never seen any use or intelligence from this stuff first hand, but know it's out there at some level.

Answer 3

Part of the beauty of the Patriot act is how vague and wide-sweeping it is. By buying drugs, you are supporting drug dealers. Drug dealers are often supported by gangs/cartels which = terrorists. Therefore drug dealers = terrorists, and drug purchasers = supporters of said terrorists. Remember the ad-campaign about 2 years ago that made this link?

Try drugs if it doesn't make sense, and whatever you do, don't consider the complexities of legalization unless you're wearing a tin-foil hat. I'm not saying your friend is right, but I am saying I wouldn't put it past our current government, as we already know they are spying on us (including - especially - internet activities).

------------------(Taken from www.whitehouse.gov)------------------
"The law allows our intelligence and law enforcement officials to continue to share information. It allows them to continue to use tools against terrorists that they used against -- that they use against drug dealers and other criminals. It will improve our nation's security while we safeguard the civil liberties of our people. The legislation strengthens the Justice Department so it can better detect and disrupt terrorist threats. And the bill gives law enforcement new tools to combat threats to our citizens from international terrorists to local drug dealers."

-- President George W. Bush
March 9, 2006

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

I think that is only in cases of Child porn and predators. That's the only thing I can remember that they 'snoop' thru.

Answer 6

They'd need probable cause to search your computer in the first place.

That and a warrant. ;)

Answer 7

He;s pulling your leg