Senate privacy hawks push to kill House amendment to warrantless surveillance bill
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Jamming through a last minute provision that dramatically expands surveillance authorities in a way that could affect almost any American is the height of irresponsibility.
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The Department commits to applying this definition of ECSP exclusively to cover the type of service provider at issue in the litigation before the FISCthat is, technology companies that provide the service the FISC concluded fell outside the current definition, Carlos Uriarte, head of legislative affairs for the Justice Department, wrote in the letter, adding it would disclose the company in a classified appendix.
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The DOJ letter does not deny that the provision authorizes the government to force a broad set of Americans and American companies to assist with warrantless surveillance under Section 702. In fact, DOJ basically concedes this fact by promising that it will only apply the new authorities to certain companies on a secret list, Wyden said.
That commitment is worth exactly nothing. It is not even binding on this administration. And it certainly isnt binding on the next administration.