Fergie's Tech Blog

New Law Will Exempt Spies From Privacy Act

Shaun Waterman writes for UPI:

A little-noticed proposal from the Senate Intelligence Committee would exempt federal agencies from important provisions of the Privacy Act in the name of the war against terrorism.

The committee's annual authorization bill, unanimously reported to the full Senate last month, would initiate a three-year "pilot program" during which U.S. intelligence agencies would be able to access personal information about Americans held by other federal departments or agencies if it is believed relevant to counter-terrorism or counter-proliferation.

In the wake of recent revelations about the administration's use of data-mining and warrantless surveillance of telephone and internet communications in pursuit of the nation's terrorist enemies, the provision seems certain to be controversial.

"If this is enacted, the Privacy Act will look like Swiss cheese," ACLU legislative counsel Tim Sparapani told United Press International.

posted by Fergie @ 6/06/2006 08:50:00 AM