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Democrats: We'll let NSA wiretapping continue
7 comments- TAGS:NSA, wiretapping
- IT TOPICS:Government & Regulation, Internet, Networking, Security
Privacy lovers who thought the Democrats would put an end to the controversial NSA wiretapping and Internet-tapping program should feel let down today. The Democrats are lining up to let the NSA continue to wiretap and read mail without court approval.
The New York Times reports that Democratic proposals "would maintain for several years the type of broad, blanket authority for NSA eavesdropping that the administration secured in August for six months."
Not only that, but one of the Democrat's proposals would give telecom companies retroactive immunity from prosecution for participating in the program. Telecom companies are being sued by privacy groups for turning over private data. If some Democrats have their way, the telecoms would be off the hook.
There would be some toothless protections built into the bills, but they're window dressing. The NSA will still be allowed to read emails, listen to phone calls, and intercept Internet communications overseas, and between the U.S. and overseas.
Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies, summed up the problem best when she told the New York Times that the Democratic bill "authorizes the interception of Americans’ international communications without a warrant in far too many instances, and without adequate civil liberties protections."
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