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December 5, 2007
Wiretap Bill is Telco Immunity Without the Words "Telco Immunity."
Threat Level: Senator Proposes Substituting Feds for Spying Telcos in Wiretapping Cases:
"On Monday, Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) announced a bill (.pdf) that would substitute the government for the companies in the suit so long as all of the wiretapping help done by the telcos happened after a written request from the government. The government would still get to play its state secrets card under Specter's proposal, which has successfully squashed almost every lawsuit filed directly against the government for its warrantless wiretapping program.
"The Electronic Frontier Foundation issued a statement Wednesday, proposing that immunity be handled separately from the larger bill expanding the government's traditional surveillance powers.
"'While EFF appreciates the attempt by Senator Specter to craft a compromise to save the litigation, the bill contains serious flaws that undermine the goal of allowing the courts to decide whether the carriers and the president broke the law when they engaged in over five years of warrantless surveillance of millions of ordinary Americans,' said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. 'Given the gravity and unprecedented complexities of the issues raised by the carriers' demand for amnesty, Congress should not be rushed into action by an arbitrary deadline and should instead take the time to carefully consider Senator Specter's proposal as well as others.'"
Posted by mhall at 6:40 PM | Add Comment
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