FISA 2013: 10 Things You Need To Know About The New Accountability And Privacy Protection Act

[cali]

Call your Senators and reps and ask them to support the FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act of 2013. It may be just a small step, but it's a critical one.



Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has introduced a bill dubbed the FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act of 2013. According to Sen. Leahy's website, the purpose of the bill is to "bolster existing privacy safeguards and require greater oversight, transparency, and accountability in connection with the government’s expansive domestic surveillance powers." The bill is co-sponsored by Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

But what does the bill entail exactly? After examining the bill and speaking with Sen. Leahy's Washington, D.C., office, here are 10 key components of the FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act of 2013 you need to know about.

1. Oversight would be enhanced

The bill proposed by Sen. Leahy would "enhance oversight by expanding the reporting requirements." What's more, "further court review" would be added as well.

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4. Increased public awareness of National Security Letters

The bill aims to expand public reporting on the use of National Security Letters and authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including an unclassified report on the impact of the use of these authorities on the privacy of United States persons. Here is a clear definition of what a National Security Letter is, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy advocate group:

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http://www.ibtimes.com/fisa-2013-10-things-you-need-know-about-new-accountability-privacy-protection-act-1324233

[Demit]

1. The use of those NSLs needs to be reined in. I like Leahy's proposals.

Especially these:

7. Increased standards for FBI procedures pertaining to NSLs

The proposed FISA 2013 bill would require the FBI to "retail an internal statement of facts demonstrating the relevance of information sought to its investigation before it can issue a National Security Letter (NSL)."

8. Increased challenge rights for recipients of Patriot Act Section 215 orders

As it currently stands, there is a one-year waiting period before a recipient could challenge such an order. There's also an automatic presumption in the government's favor, which Sen. Leahy's bill would also eliminate.

9. Statutes authorizing use of NSLs would reach a "sunset" date in two years

10. Increased government accountability pertaining to requests for records under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

[hootinholler]

2. Reined in? No.

Eliminated? Hell yeah. The weak sauce attempt to satisfy the constitutional requirement for a warrant based on probable cause without being an actual warrant needs to go.

[Logical]

3. Thanks for posting Cali! We need something to change! n-t

[Savannahmann]

4. You are always an acceptable source