Is al-Qaida on Your Speed Dial? New Wiretap Law Lets Feds Check
As expected, the Senate approved a bill today that significantly expands the government’s domestic wiretapping powers and provides immunity from liability for telecommunications companies that previously cooperated with such spying despite a lack of warrants. This was the final OK needed to enact the legislation, which was passed by the House last month and is supported by the White House.
Some opposed the expansion of government spying authority, including Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., who urged colleagues “to stand up for the rule of law” and defeat the revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. But a majority hewed more closely to the view of Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Unless you have al-Qaida on your speed dial,” he said, there is little to fear from the legislation, reports the New York Times.
Bruce Afran, an attorney from New Jersey who represents plaintiffs in a complex tort action against Verizon Communications and other telecom companies contends the bill violates due-process rights and the separation of powers. He characterized the Senate’s vote to pass the bill today as “presidential election-year cowardice.”
Additional coverage:
Washington Post: “Senate Passes Surveillance Bill With Immunity for Telecom Firms”
ABAJournal.com: “Congress Expected to Approve Wiretap Bill Today”
