New House Coalition Fights Rise In Government Surveillance
Source: USA Today
WASHINGTON An unusual coalition of 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats on Wednesday announced the creation of the House Fourth Amendment Caucus to protect Americans' privacy rights against calls for increased government surveillance in the wake of terrorist attacks.
The group named itself after the Fourth Amendment because the lawmakers fear that the government is increasingly seeking the power to search Americans' electronic data without a warrant. They see that as a threat to the Constitutional amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
"In the face of difficult circumstances, some are quick to pursue extreme, unconstitutional measures; the Fourth Amendment Caucus will be a moderating influence that gives voice to countless Americans whose rights are violated by these ill-conceived policies," said Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., who joined the group led by Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Ted Poe, R-Texas.
Privacy rights are one of the rare issues that liberals and libertarian-leaning conservatives in Congress have agreed on. Members of the new coalition oppose legislation that would force U.S. tech companies to build "backdoors" into encrypted smartphones or allow federal agents to view someone's Internet browsing history without a warrant.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/13/new-house-coalition-fights-rise-government-surveillance/87038428/
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)Plus, who is responsible for all the public surveillance camera's? I see them everywhere! Is it Homeland Security?
Curious how there is plenty of money for NSA and Homeland Security, but repubs say there is no money for citizen support services.
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)That sort of fascism starts in your home town.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)I thought all the public camera's going up everywhere were across the country. We have them at every street corner, intersections, freeways, lampposts, public buildings etc.
A camera is on everyone all the time, so it seems.