Once again, the country is learning about how the federal government has been exceeding its legal authority and violating Americans’ most basic rights in the name of fighting terrorism. In a disturbing article in The Times on Wednesday, James Risen and Eric Lichtblau said that Congressional investigations suggest that the National Security Agency continues to…
Category: Surveillance
UK: Ministers ‘do not value privacy’
The government does not appreciate the threat posed to privacy by surveillance, peers have warned. In a report, the Lords Constitution Committee says the Information Commissioner does not have enough power to prevent abuse by the private sector. Its chairman Lord Goodlad said ministers did not recognise the “fundamental importance of privacy”. In response, the…
AG Holder questioned on warrantless wiretapping
Senator Russ Feingold questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about NSA and warrantless domestic surveillance earlier this week. Holder didn’t exactly give a straight answer: FEINGOLD: In a speech to the American Constitutional Society in June 2008, you, sir, set the following. “I never thought that I would see the day when a president would act…
Canada and the UK continue debating internet snooping powers
Police will be given new powers to eavesdrop on Internet-based communications as part of a contentious government bill, to be announced Thursday, which Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan has said is needed to modernize surveillance laws crafted during “the era of the rotary phone.” The proposed legislation would force Internet service providers to allow…