We
are urging Congress to pass the Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records
Act of 2020 (SAPRA), bipartisan legislation that includes significant
reforms to the government’s foreign intelligence surveillance
authorities, including Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which was at the
heart of Edward Snowden’s revelations about NSA bulk collection of phone
records.
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SAPRA
would put much needed limits on the government’s expansive foreign
intelligence surveillance powers, making it an important step in
reining in the broad, unconstitutional spying powers granted claimed by
the government..
Congress must take this opportunity to enact the substantial reforms this bill calls for, including:
- Prohibiting the NSA’s Call Details Record program and ending bulk collection of metadata (revealed by Snowden);
- Prohibiting warrantless collection of our internet browsing, search history, and geo-location data;
- Imposing
a sunset, for the first time, on National Security Letters authorities,
which allow the FBI to obtain sensitive records without a court order.
But
the bill goes much further, including essential reporting requirements,
reforming the FISA court, imposing warrant requirements on all section
215 searches if they would be required in the criminal context, and
strengthening the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.
Undoubtedly,
the surveillance hawks will soon introduce a much weaker bill, or will
attempt to re-authorize Section 215 without any reforms at all.
We need you to take action now to make sure we get these essential reforms to our out-of-control surveillance state!
It is time for Congress to act; pass the Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020 now!
Stay Loud, Stay Strong,
Sue
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