Fergie's Tech Blog

Privacy Changes in 9/11 Bill Challenge Administration

Ryan Singel writes on 27B Stroke 6:

The newly empowered Democrats in Congress have introduced their first bill they say implements the remaining recommendations of the 9/11 commission, including provisions that would try to strengthen oversight powers of civil liberties and privacy officers in ways that could force a showdown with president.

Most notably, the bill removes the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board from the White House -- turning it into an independent agency. Currently the 5-member board serves at the pleasure of the president and only the chair and vice-chair need Senate confirmation. Critics charge that the board has no independence and since it serves inside the White House, can only effectively work as an insider, even though its charged with and attempting to be a public-facing board.

These contradictions were glaringly obvious in their first public meeting in December, when it refused to take questions from the press and admitted the panel knew, but would not reveal, the number of Americans targeted yearly by the President's warrantless spying program.

posted by Fergie @ 1/09/2007 12:43:00 PM