A little-known amendment to the reauthorized version of Fisa would create a drastic, draconian expansion of the government’s surveillance powers.
The vote did not just reauthorize the FISA act. It also vastly expanded the surveillance law enforcement can conduct. In a move that Senator Ron Wyden condemned as “terrifying”, the House also doubled down on a surveillance authority that has been used against American protesters, journalists and political donors in a chilling assault on free speech.
An amendment to the bill approved by the House vastly increases the law’s scope. The Turner-Himes amendment would permit federal law enforcement to also force “any other service provider” with access to communications equipment to hand over data. That means anyone with access to a wifi router, server or even phone. Anyone from a landlord to a laundromat could now be required to help the government spy without a warrant.
Do you think the government agencies should be allowed to spy on American citizens without a warrant?