PogoWasRight.org

Menu
  • About
  • Privacy
Menu

PATRIOT Act provisions extended

Posted on May 27, 2011 by pogowasright.org

The “Four more years!” chant you may have heard last night was not an enthusiastic crowd supporting a presidential nominee.  It was the groan of civil libertarians as Congress authorized an extension of three PATRIOT Act provisions that would have sunsetted this morning.  The roll call from the Senate is here; from the House, here.

Despite repeated rhetoric about improving safeguards, despite disturbing revelations by Senator Ron Wyden and three other senators that the government has a “secret” interpretation of one of the provisions that it appears to be applying to engage in domestic surveillance unrelated to terrorism and that goes far beyond what the public understands the law to allow, Congress passed the reauthorization.

Time and time again, Congress has used fear and deadlines to get the PATRIOT Act reauthorized instead of really dealing with the civil rights protections that are needed.  Despite lukewarm campaign promises about revising FISA, this administration has been no better – and in some ways, is worse – than the previous administration.

I’ll have more on this in the future  as a secret surveillance program – again – cannot be allowed to continue.

For now, think about this:

Memorial Day is soon upon us.  When you think about those who gave their lives defending our country and freedoms, ask yourself how they might have felt being asked to sacrifice their lives for a country that lies to its own people and spies on them.   Is that a country worth fighting and dying for?

Shame on most members of Congress.  And shame on the Department of Justice.  You cannot rationalize your deception and bad acts in the name of keeping me safe.   Not in my name.  Not now.  Not ever.

 

 

Category: Laws

Post navigation

← Future of Privacy Forum Launches App Privacy Site
Does sale of SAT, ACT student questions violate privacy? →

Now more than ever

Search

Contact Me

Email: info@pogowasright.org

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Categories

Recent Posts

  • “We would be less confidential than Google” – Proton threatens to quit Switzerland over new surveillance law
  • CFPB Quietly Kills Rule to Shield Americans From Data Brokers
  • South Korea fines Temu for data protection violations
  • The BR Privacy & Security Download: May 2025
  • License Plate Reader Company Flock Is Building a Massive People Lookup Tool, Leak Shows
  • FTC dismisses privacy concerns in Google breakup
  • ARC sells airline ticket records to ICE and others

RSS Recent Posts on DataBreaches.net

  • Breachforums Boss “Pompompurin” to Pay $700k in Healthcare Breach
  • HHS Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Cybersecurity Investigation with Vision Upright MRI
  • Additional 12 Defendants Charged in RICO Conspiracy for over $263 Million Cryptocurrency Thefts, Money Laundering, Home Break-Ins
  • RIBridges firewall worked. But forensic report says hundreds of alarms went unnoticed by Deloitte.
  • Chinese Hackers Hit Drone Sector in Supply Chain Attacks
©2025 PogoWasRight.org. All rights reserved.
Menu
  • About
  • Privacy