Fergie's Tech Blog

Stop Specter's Surveillance Bill

Via The EFF.

EFF's lawsuit against AT&T aims to expose and stop its collaboration with the NSA's massive spying program. But Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) has drafted a bill that would sweep this illegal activity and any further government surveillance under the rug, shuffling legal challenges out of the traditional court system and into the shadowy FISA courts. Tell Congress to reject this proposal and let cases like EFF's have a fair hearing in court.

Specter's bill would stack the deck against anyone suing to stop illegal surveillance, including the wholesale violation of the Fourth Amendment alleged in EFF’s case. The FISA courts' secret proceedings -- where only the government gets to present arguments -- violate our nation's tradition of openness and transparency in the court system. Burying legal challenges in these secret courts will cut off meaningful judicial review.

Worse still, the bill tries to make an end-run around the Fourth Amendment by creating a secret, Congressionally-sanctioned approval process for future dragnet spying programs. Without the public ever knowing, the Attorney General would be able to covertly obtain general warrants that let the government spy on everyone.

Specter will no doubt try to sneak this bill through quickly and without scrutiny -- act now to stop it in its tracks.

posted by Fergie @ 7/11/2006 10:05:00 PM