US House Approves Bill to Eliminate Phone Data Collection, Sets Stage for Senate Debate

Strategic Insights -

The US House of Representatives has approved the USA Freedom Act, a measure that aims to end the National Security Agency's (NSA) mass collection of Americans' phone data. The bill, which received a vote of 338 to 88, largely extends the USA Patriot Act, which was set to expire on June 3. The measure allows the NSA to collect phone data in bulk only if the government obtains a warrant from a court, which the data is stored by major telecommunication companies like Verizon and AT&T. The strong bipartisan support in the House, however, is unlikely to be reflected in the Senate, where lawmakers like Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) have expressed opposing views on the bill.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USA Freedom Act, which was approved by the House, extends the USA Patriot Act and bans the NSA from collecting phone data in bulk without a warrant.
  • The government can still access phone data through the records of major telecommunication companies, but the NSA must obtain a court order to do so.
  • Several US lawmakers have called for a review of the government's surveillance activity in light of reports revealing phone and Internet monitoring.
  • Human rights groups have taken legal action challenging the NSA's mass surveillance programs, citing violations of privacy rights and threats to free communication.
  • The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ruled that the Patriot Act does not authorize the NSA to collect millions of Americans' phone records.

Statistics:

  • 338 to 88: The vote by which the USA Freedom Act was approved in the US House of Representatives.
  • 2013: The year in which former NSA contractor Edward Snowden allegedly leaked classified documents, including PRISM and UPSTREAM, exposing the scope and breadth of NSA surveillance activities.
  • June 1: The deadline before which a compromise must be reached in the Senate for the provision in the Patriot Act regarding NSA data collection to expire.
  • June 3: The date on which the USA Patriot Act was set to expire before being extended by the USA Freedom Act.

Sources:

  • USA Freedom Act [text]
  • USA Patriot Act [text, PDF]
  • JURIST report: White House supports USA Freedom Act (JURIST report)
  • JURIST report: Senators call for review of government surveillance activity (JURIST report)
  • JURIST backgrounder: NSA surveillance and privacy concerns (JURIST backgrounder)
  • JURIST news archive: Edward Snowden (JURIST news archive)
  • JURIST report: US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rules against NSA phone records collection (JURIST report)
  • Opinion, PDF: US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruling (opinion, PDF)
  • JURIST report: Human rights groups file lawsuit against NSA (JURIST report)