EndMassSurveillanceUnderthePatriotAct|AmericanCivilLibertiesUnion
Just45daysaftertheattacksofSeptember11,2001,apanickedCongress
passed,withvirtuallynodebate,theUSAPatriotAct.Thelawamountedtoan
overnightrevisionofthenation'ssurveillancelawsthatvastlyexpandedthe
government'sauthoritytospyonitsowncitizens,whilesimultaneously
reducingchecksandbalancesonthosepowers.
Foryears,wehadlittleofficialinformationabouthowthegovernment
interpretedtheoverlybroadsurveillancebill.OnJune6,2013,thefirstof
EdwardSnowden'sdisclosuresconfirmedwhatsomeprivacyadvocateshad
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EndMassSurveillanceUnderthePatriotAct|AmericanCivilLibertiesUnion
longfeared:UnderSection215ofthePatriotAct,theU.S.government
collects,onadailybasis,thephonerecordsofmillionsofAmericans.These
recordsincludethenumbersdialedandreceived,thedatesandtimesofthose
calls,andtheirduration.Thatprogramwasruledunlawfulbyanappealscourt
inMay2015.
Section215isoneofthethreesectionsofthePatriotActthatarescheduledto
sunsetonJune1,2015.Thislongabusedprovisionofthelawhasbeena
failurebynearlyeverymeasure.Theauthorofthelawhaspubliclystatedthat
itwasneverintendedtofacilitatemass,suspicionlesssurveillance.Ithasnot
playedanessentialroleinstoppinganyattack.Andithasenabledan
unprecedentedsurveillancesuperstructurethatviolatesAmericans'rightsto
privacy,freespeech,andfreeassociation.
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EndMassSurveillanceUnderthePatriotAct|AmericanCivilLibertiesUnion
WhenthePatriotActwaspassedin2001,manycongressionalrepresentatives
complainedthattheydidn'thavetimetoreadthebillbeforetheywereforced
tovoteonit,amidintimationsfromtheBushadministrationthatthosewho
voted"no"wouldbeheldresponsibleforfurtherattacks.Thankfully,a
surveillanceauthorityenactedandimplementedinthedarkhasfinallybeen
thrustintothelight.WenowknowwhatthegovernmentdidwithSection215,
andwehavefinallybeenabletotakepartinadebateweweredeniedformore
thanadecade.
Itisclearerthanever:Section215hasgottogoandCongressmust
reininotherPatriotActauthorities.
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EndMassSurveillanceUnderthePatriotAct|AmericanCivilLibertiesUnion
7. Monitor your emails and watch what internet sites you visit.
CONGRESS: LET
SECTION 215 DIE
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