The National Security Agency (NSA) is set to expand surveillance with a bill tweaking Section 702 of FISA, already approved by the U.S. House. House of Representatives has drawn sharp criticism from whistleblower Edward Snowden and organizations like the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
The new law will allow the state to manage an array of business activities. Internet companies as small as website owners might also face that challenge because they will not be allowed to tell the public about it. Privacy activists warn that this would be a big problem, as it could pose a severe threat to constitutional rights and press freedom, enabling the government to surveil journalists and their sources.
Elizabeth Goitein, the Manager of the Liberty and National Security program at the Brennan Center of Justice, has raised the alarm about the Law. Senator Ron Wyden and Congresswoman Anne Paulina Luna have emboldened their disapproval, calling the legislation a blatant violation of privacy rights.
Despite criticism from privacy advocates and politicians, the bill has moved forward to the Senate for a vote on April 19th. If passed into law, the amendment could grant the NSA authority to monitor and collect data, raising concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for abuse.
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