Free Press Action Fund Praises Sen. Leahy's Bill to Curb Mass Surveillance

WASHINGTON -- On Tuesday, the Senate introduced a revised bill designed to curtail the government's abusive mass surveillance programs and force more public scrutiny of similar violations of Americans’ privacy and free-speech rights.

The “USA Freedom Act,” sponsored by Vermont Senator and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, would be far more effective than the watered-down version the House passed in May. The bill reportedly limits intelligence agencies’ sweeping approach to collecting data and requires that the government disclose more about the scale of its spying efforts, including the number of Americans who are under surveillance.

Free Press Action Fund Policy Director Matt Wood made the following statement:

“Senator Leahy has taken the important step of crafting a bill that corrects many mistakes in the weakened House measure. We urge other senators to support this version of the USA Freedom Act if it comes to the floor as promised.

“The scale of mass spying is unprecedented. The government collects seemingly limitless amounts of data, including our domestic calling records, our international emails and calls, and in some instances our communications via social media and other Internet platforms. These programs not only violate our right to privacy, they also threaten our rights to connect and communicate with each other.  

“Intelligence agencies, the White House and their allies on Capitol Hill watered down the House bill to the point that it would have done nothing to stop unchecked surveillance. The Senate version apparently restores much accountability and transparency while reining in government abuses.

“Since whistleblowers exposed the government’s surveillance programs last year, more than a million people have called on Congress to protect us against unwarranted government spying. With Senator Leahy's bill, Congress now has a real chance to respond.”