House votes to end NSA's mass collection of phone records

[proverbialwisdom]

Source: Los Angeles Times

BY BRIAN BENNETT
May 13, 2015, 3:23 p.m.

The House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill Wednesday to dial back the once-secret National Security Agency program that collects and stores data from nearly every landline or cellphone call dialed or received in the United States.

The bill passed, 338 to 88, with Democratic and Republican majorities determined to rein in a domestic intelligence program that sparked sharp concerns in Congress about violations of privacy and civil liberties.

The House bill faces a hurdle in the Senate, however, where GOP leaders are backing a bill to renew the controversial NSA program through 2020 either unchanged or with minor amendments.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, has said he will filibuster if the Senate is asked to renew the bill without changes. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), another staunch opponent of the NSA program, has vowed to filibuster as well.

Read more: http://touch.latimes.com/#section/1780/article/p2p-83534134/

[thesquanderer]

1. Easier to vote against it now...

...now that a court has said it's illegal anyway. What courage!

[Maedhros]

2. Obama veto in 5...4...3..2...1... [n/t]

[Xipe Totec]

3. That law is sunsetted. A veto is akin to killing the whole thing in the face. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Uhh wrong.

The Washington Post

National Security
White House backs bill that would end NSA bulk collection of phone records
By Ellen Nakashima and Mike DeBonis May 11

The Obama administration is urging lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill that would end the National Security Agency’s mass collection of Americans’ phone records, an effort that has been boosted by a federal appeals court’s ruling last week that the program was unlawful.

The White House’s support for the USA Freedom Act, which preserves the government’s ability to obtain more limited amounts of records, comes as the House is expected to pass it on Wednesday. That sets up a showdown in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is backing another bill that would maintain the NSA program of mass collection and renew it through 2020.

The attorney general and the director of national intelligence are expected to issue soon a letter of support for the USA Freedom Act, saying that they do not think it will undermine national security while its proposed reforms will enhance Americans’ privacy.

There is a sense of urgency because time is running out for Congress to act on the issue. If lawmakers fail to pass a bill by June 1, the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records will automatically expire. The Obama administration has concluded that the USA Freedom Act is the best opportunity to maintain the government’s power to obtain records of terrorist suspects with some measure of speed.

<...>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/white-house-backs-bill-that-would-curtail-nsa-collection-of-phone-records/2015/05/11/aa96ee50-f7ec-11e4-9ef4-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html

[Jesus Malverde]

5. Thank you Edward Smowden, whistleblower and dissident.

Have a good day to the NSA analyst/computer transcribing this post. One day your memory of my online travels will be better than mine.

[jakeXT]

6. House Approves USA Freedom Act, Extending And Revising The Patriot Act

The House measure would extend the revised Patriot Act until Dec. 15, 2019. Last fall, the Senate failed to advance its own version of the Freedom USA Act.

...

While the House's measure would modify the phone records program, controversy also surrounds three main areas of the Patriot Act:

Roving wiretaps: One authorization covers one person's devices, computers, and phones.

Easier access to records: Broad access covers everything from business documents to library records.

"Lone wolf" provision: The traditional definition of an "agent of a foreign power" is changed to allow for surveillance of "any non-U.S. persons who engage in international terrorism or preparatory activities."

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/05/13/406517322/house-to-vote-on-usa-freedom-act-extending-and-revising-the-patriot-act

[They_Live]

7. Oh yes. I will trust them.

to not do that.

[lastlib]

8. I would fucking clap for them, but.......

...with this gang, I smell a rat--238 of 'em!

[billhicks76]

9. I Know

And don't think we didn't forget about Obama's first big lie flip flopping on telecom immunity for NSA spying.

[agent46]

10. A day late and a dollar short

Last edited Fri May 15, 2015, 01:51 AM - Edit history (1)

I think this is a joke.

They get to keep all the records they already collected though, right?

The way I see it, now that the era of big data has arrived, the NSA and the people who benefit from these programs don't really need phone surveillance anymore. Within a few years, all devices will be tracking, recording and transmitting data about us constantly. All they'll need is advanced software and a data analyst to know every detail of our lives in real time without tapping any phones.

I don't see any announcements about "big data" in the news. Most people will remain unaware of the extent of the intrusion - for awhile - until we're all used to it.

Me? I never worry about anything. I've learned to love the bomb.