The Trump administration is using an obscure customs law to obtain private records from journalists, activists and organisations without first seeking approval from a judge, according to a report by The Guardian. The Department of Homeland Security has used administrative summonses under a 1930 customs statute to demand phone, social media and other records, with requests subject to internal approval and, in some cases, secrecy requirements.
The practice has drawn particular scrutiny because DHS used the mechanism after a federal judge had twice rejected government requests for information involving Minneapolis journalist Georgia Fort.
