The US House of Representatives
has voted to end the National
Security Agency's bulk collection of
Americans' phone records.
A 338-to-88 overwhelming vote in favour
of the USA Freedom Act, already backed
by the White House, means Senate
backing would make it law.
The bill would empower the agency to
search data held by telephone companies
on a case-by-case basis.
Bulk collection was revealed in 2013 by
ex-security contractor Edward Snowden.
Supporters of the Freedom Act, including
privacy and civil rights advocates, say it
protects privacy while preserving national
security powers.
The bill, which only affects people within
the US, would amend sections of the USA
Patriot Act, which was passed after the
9/11 attacks and which will expire on 1
June.
The amendments would ban the agency's
mass collection of telephone data - phone
numbers, time and duration of calls - as
well as emails and web addresses.
"Americans' liberty and America's
security can co-exist," said House
Judiciary Committee chairman Bob
Goodlatte, who voted in favour of the bill.
"These fundamental concepts are not
mutually exclusive."
Earlier this month, a US appeals court
ruled that bulk collection of phone
records by the National Security Agency
was illegal.
www.josiahdele.blogspot.com
has voted to end the National
Security Agency's bulk collection of
Americans' phone records.
A 338-to-88 overwhelming vote in favour
of the USA Freedom Act, already backed
by the White House, means Senate
backing would make it law.
The bill would empower the agency to
search data held by telephone companies
on a case-by-case basis.
Bulk collection was revealed in 2013 by
ex-security contractor Edward Snowden.
Supporters of the Freedom Act, including
privacy and civil rights advocates, say it
protects privacy while preserving national
security powers.
The bill, which only affects people within
the US, would amend sections of the USA
Patriot Act, which was passed after the
9/11 attacks and which will expire on 1
June.
The amendments would ban the agency's
mass collection of telephone data - phone
numbers, time and duration of calls - as
well as emails and web addresses.
"Americans' liberty and America's
security can co-exist," said House
Judiciary Committee chairman Bob
Goodlatte, who voted in favour of the bill.
"These fundamental concepts are not
mutually exclusive."
Earlier this month, a US appeals court
ruled that bulk collection of phone
records by the National Security Agency
was illegal.
www.josiahdele.blogspot.com
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