Thank Edward Snowden For Changes To Patriot Act
Both parties want to back off government surveillance.
On Thursday, a bill that would overhaul the Patriot Act and curtail the so-called metadata surveillance exposed by Edward J. Snowden was overwhelmingly passed by the House Judiciary Committee and was heading to almost certain passage in that chamber this month.
An identical bill in the Senate — introduced with the support of five Republicans — is gaining support over the objection of Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, who is facing the prospect of his first policy defeat since ascending this year to majority leader.
The push for reform is the strongest demonstration yet of a decade-long shift from a singular focus on national security at the expense of civil liberties to a new balance in the post-Snowden era.
Under the bipartisan bills in the House and Senate, the Patriot Act would be changed to prohibit bulk collection, and sweeps that had operated under the guise of so-called National Security Letters issued by the F.B.I. would end. The data would instead be stored by the phone companies themselves, and could be accessed by intelligence agencies only after approval of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court.
The legislation would also create a panel of experts to advise the FISA court on privacy, civil liberties, and technology matters, while requiring the declassification of all significant FISA court opinions.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
9 responses to Thank Edward Snowden For Changes To Patriot Act
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Carla Akins May 1st, 2015 at 10:13
Regardless of the Patriot Act, it’s ridiculous to think the government isn’t spying on you.
Gina May 1st, 2015 at 20:03
In America…. you mean. Am I right? I don’t think I’m spied in my country…
Carla Akins May 2nd, 2015 at 14:34
Yes, I am in the US. It’s very sweet that you trust your government, I hope that trust is well deserved.
Gina May 2nd, 2015 at 14:52
I mean, at least not to the extent it is happening in the US at least.
fahvel May 1st, 2015 at 10:29
and the easter bunny will dance with santa claus.
Larry Schmitt May 1st, 2015 at 11:48
I want pictures of that.
Denise May 1st, 2015 at 10:54
The Patriots Act violates Civil Rights and should be discarded. The party that always fear mongering about loss liberties are the people who supported the Patriots Act 10 years ago
Bunya May 1st, 2015 at 14:27
Government spying on its own citizens is as ‘murican as mom ‘n apple pie. Regardless of whether it violates civil rights or not, it don’t matter. Big brother will always find a reason to spy on us.
fancypants May 1st, 2015 at 21:50
why should I thank a dude who doesn’t want anything to do with the usa ?
its not like he’s telling anyone what he’s doing on a daily basis and its not too smart to shack up with putin who shoots down commercial planes at will.
I’ll take domestic spying over dictatorship eddie How about you ?