The Patriot act expires in June, and anyone in their right mind would wish
the entire concept go away entirely. NSA Spying has a 100% perfect track
record of failure.
Sadly, the answer to the question Would
NSA Data Surveillance End With Patriot Act? is a resounding
"No".
The National Security Agency would lose its legal
justification for collecting data on Americans' phone and email activity if
Congress does not reauthorize the Patriot Act by June 1, but privacy
advocates are skeptical about whether that would mean the end of the
controversial surveillance program.
President Barack Obama has called on Congress to pass a bill that would end
the bulk surveillance program while keeping certain spying powers intact for
national security reasons. The clock is ticking, however, as the NSA loses
its legal authority for domestic surveillance provided by Section 215 of the
Patriot Act in June. If Congress does not renew that provision then the Obama
administration will not push to continue the program, although its absence
would damage America’s national security, says Ned Price, a spokesman for the
National Security Council.
“If Section 215 sunsets, we will not continue the bulk telephony metadata
program,” Price tells U.S. News. “Allowing Section 215 to sunset would result
in the loss, going forward, of a critical national security tool that is used
in a variety of additional contexts that do not involve the collection of
bulk data.”
The NSA, however, could invoke other legal powers to continue the data
collection program without Section 215 of the Patriot Act, says Harley
Geiger, senior counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology advocacy
group. The government has also conducted bulk collection of email metadata in
the past using Section 214 of the Patriot Act, for instance, which is also
called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act “pen trap statute,” Geiger
says.
“The FISA pen trap statute does not have a sunset and would not be affected
by a sunset of Section 215,” he says. “For these and other reasons, we
believe that legislation to end bulk collection would be more effective than
merely letting Section 215 sunset. However, we believe Congress should sunset
Section 215 if effective reform is not possible.”
Passing surveillance reform may be difficult in a Congress controlled by
Republicans, considering it failed last year while Democrats controlled the
Senate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is among the
Republicans who say the NSA powers are necessary to ensure national security.
“I will vote for the Freedom Act as long as it doesn’t include
reauthorization of the Patriot Act,” Paul told U.S. News recently, adding
that he will not vote to reauthorize Section 215.
Paul told U.S. News he will also partner with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on a
bill to amend the Patriot Act when it comes up for reauthorization.
A bill introduced on Tuesday by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Mark Pocan,
D-Wis., would abolish legal powers for surveillance programs, including the
entire Patriot Act and the FISA Amendment Act of 2008.
Google joins Apple, Others Requesting Spying Controls
CNET reports Google
joins Apple, others in calling for spying controls, as Patriot Act vote nears.
With an important surveillance-related section of the USA
Patriot Act up for reauthorization this year, Google has teamed with other
tech firms in sending a letter to lawmakers and others that spells out needed
changes to US spy policies.
On Wednesday, Google revealed in a blog post that it has joined the Reform
Government Surveillance coalition, civil rights groups and trade
associations in sending the letter, which promotes transparency,
accountability and an end to the bulk collection of data.
The letter (PDF) -- addressed to government figures including US
President Barack Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper,
National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers and various House members --
underscores the need for reform that will both protect national security and
preserve the right to privacy. Google also posted a page online where people can add their name in
support of the reforms.
The catalyst for the letter is the USA Patriot Act -- specifically Section 215, which the NSA points to as the legal basis
for its bulk collection of data. Section 215 is set to expire June 1, and
lawmakers must vote before then on whether to reauthorize the section or
allow it to "sunset."
The letter outlines what it says are "essential" elements to
surveillance reform, mentioning Section 215, as well as Section 214 -- another part of the Patriot Act that the
NSA could invoke to justify its bulk collection and one that's not set to
expire this year.
The companies say it has been nearly two years since the first news stories
revealed the scope of the NSA's spying, and that "now is the time to
take on meaningful legislative reforms" that maintain national security
but also protect privacy, transparency and accountability.
The Reform Government Surveillance coalition now counts Apple, AOL, Dropbox,
Evernote, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo and Google among its
members.
The group's principles are based on the idea of placing "sensible"
limitations on government surveillance powers and introducing strong checks
and balances when governments are granted the power to spy -- to prevent
abuse and keep the concept of privacy intact. In addition, the group promotes
transparency concerning government demands for data imposed on technology
companies, as well as respecting the free flow of information across borders.
Congress Must Reform Our Surveillance Laws
On the Google Public Policy Blog, David Drummond, Chief Legal Officer,
Google, states Congress
Must Reform Our Surveillance Laws.
We have a responsibility to protect the privacy and
security of our users’ data. At the same time, we want to do our part to help
governments keep people safe. We have little doubt that Congress can protect
both national security and privacy while taking a significant, concrete step
toward restoring trust in the Internet.
Google has been working hard for the last two years to reform government
surveillance laws, and we will continue to push for broader surveillance
reforms in the months ahead.
We invite you to join us in asking Congress to enact surveillance reform by adding
your name at google.com/takeaction.
Bill of Rights
As far as I am concerned, any law that does not pass muster with privacy
restrictions in the Bill of Rights, should be done away with entirely.
Here's a refresher course on the Fourth
Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects,[a] against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be
searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The Fourth Amendment was adopted in response to the abuse of the writ of
assistance, a type of general search warrant issued by the British government
and a major source of tension in pre-Revolutionary America.
Dear Congress
I find it galling that Republican hypocrites voted for the Patriot Act and
any of its extensions. I believe the Patriot act should not be amended but
rather abolished in entirety.
Thus, I am torn over half-measures that allegedly will do what is needed. Google
says "We have little doubt that Congress can protect both national
security and privacy while taking a significant, concrete step toward
restoring trust in the Internet.
I have high doubts. Once rights are taken away, history suggests it is damn
hard to win them back. The only question at hand is whether or not partial
restoration of rights merits your consideration or not.
On the theory that half a loaf is better than none, but also with plenty of
reservations, please consider Google's Dear
Congress Petition.
Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
