Dev.SN

Obama to Reduce NSA's Retention of Phone Records

posted by mrcoolbp on Wednesday March 26 2014, @12:36AM   
from the we-are-slightly-less-screwed dept.

Sir Garlon writes:

According to the New York Times,

The Obama administration is preparing to unveil a legislative proposal for a far-reaching overhaul of the National Security Agency's once-secret bulk phone records program in a way that ... would end its systematic collection of data about Americans' calling habits. The bulk records would stay in the hands of phone companies, which would not be required to retain the data for any longer than they normally would. And the N.S.A. could obtain specific records only with permission from a judge, using a new kind of court order.

The Times' characterization of this as a "far-reaching overhaul" seems overstated, as the details of the proposal involve moving custody of the phone records from the NSA to the phone companies, and shortens retention time from five years to 18 months. The EPIC, ACLU, and EFF spokespersons quoted in the article reacted with guarded approval.

If submitted as planned, the bill would still need to pass the US House of Representatives and Senate.

According to EPIC, the NSA phone-records surveillance program is scheduled to end (in its current form) this Friday, though the Times article says President Obama plans to extend that deadline.

• Re:It's a sham Re:It's a sham (Score: 5, Insightful) by TheB on Wednesday March 26 2014, @06:54AM

  by TheB (1538) on Wednesday March 26 2014, @06:54AM (#21429)

  Smells like Blackwater to me.

  Move the public services to private contractors to avoid association/responsibility, and dodge regulations at the same time.
  In the name of restoring public trust he is giving more control to those with less oversite, but a different name.

  You are 100% correct that there will be no change if people keep on voting Republican/Democrat.
  Whats a better choice Obama/McCain or Johnson/Stein?

  Voting third party isn't throwing throwing your vote away, it's the best option for returning government to the people.

  Parent

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• Re:It's a sham (Score: 1) by urza9814 on Wednesday March 26 2014, @08:21AM

  by urza9814 (3954) on Wednesday March 26 2014, @08:21AM (#21451)

  I have never in my life been more desiring of mod points. Well said. Thank you.

  Parent

• Re:It's a sham (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 26 2014, @03:39PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 26 2014, @03:39PM (#21703)

  Voting was the solution. 20 years ago.
  
  We're far past the point where voting can fix this mess.

  Parent