Large Bipartisan Coalition Calls for National Security Reform, End to Mass Surveillance
Media contact: Mark Stanley, 682-429-2776
Email: press@demandprogress.org
A bipartisan coalition of 60 advocacy groups, whistleblowers, and startups and web companies called on Congress to end mass surveillance, strengthen oversight of national security, reinforce whistleblower protections, and bring “secret law” into the sunshine. In a letter sent Tuesday morning in advance of a debate over USA PATRIOT Act renewal, the coalition urged Congress to put an end to bulk collection under the USA PATRIOT Act, stop mass surveillance programs under the FISA Amendments Act and Executive Order 12333, and put in place structural reforms to restore accountability of the Intelligence Community to Congress and the public.
The letter was co-authored by Demand Progress Policy Director Daniel Schuman, FreedomWorks Legislative Affairs Manager Josh Withrow, and X-Lab Director Sascha Meinrath.
“This letter lays out long overdue reforms that end mass surveillance and establish structural fixes that protect civil liberties, restore confidence in government, and strengthen the economy,” said Daniel Schuman, Policy Director of Demand Progress. “We view the recommendations in this letter, supported by a bipartisan array of advocacy groups, businesses, and individuals from across the political spectrum, as essential to meaningful reform. Congress should place great weight on these proposals as it considers what should be done about surveillance.“
In addition to that described above, recommendations in the letter include:
- Ensuring a probable cause-based warrant requirement for acquiring and searching the communications of U.S. persons;
- Ending bulk and “bulky” (i.e., broadly defined, e.g. by location) information collection;
- Informing the public about the scope of surveillance by requiring each intelligence collection agency—and allowing companies—to release granular information about collections;
- Prohibiting the government from weakening security and privacy technology;
- Providing pathways for and protecting whistleblowers who report problems;
- Slimming down the role of the FISC, which has expanded from its original mandate;
- Publishing “secret law,” including documents that interpret the law on matters of national security, except to the extent it contains facts that risk the viability of investigations;
- Requiring independent audits of intelligence agencies’ compliance with the law;
- Strengthening and empowering Congressional oversight;
- Legislatively addressing and limiting the state secrets privilege; and
- Conducting a full accounting of post-9/11 intelligence community activities with substantial public reporting.
Read the full letter and list of signers here.
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