WASHINGTON – In a move sparking controversy, the US government has renewed its authority to collect bulk telephony metadata, sparking renewed debate over civil liberties and national security. The latest renewal, which was approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), comes as the government continues to face criticism for its surveillance practices.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the government had filed an application with the FISC seeking renewal of the authority to collect telephony metadata in bulk. On March 28, 2014, the FISC renewed that authority, and the DNI announced that the Administration was undertaking a declassification review of the FISC’s March 28th Primary Order.
Fast forward to June 20, 2014, the DNI declassified and publicly disclosed that the US government had filed an application with the FISC seeking renewal of the authority granted in March to collect telephony metadata in bulk. On June 19, 2014, the FISC renewed that authority, and the DNI also announced that the Administration was undertaking a declassification review of the FISC’s June 19th Primary Order and an accompanying Memorandum Opinion.
Following a declassification review by the Executive Branch, the DNI has released in redacted form the March 28, 2014 Primary Order, signed by Judge Rosemary M. Collyer. Separately, following a declassification review by the Executive Branch, the FISC published in redacted form the June 19, 2014 Primary Order and an accompanying Memorandum Opinion, signed by Judge James B. Zagel, re-authorizing the collection of bulk telephony metadata under Section 215.
The latest renewal expires on September 12, 2014, and has been met with criticism from civil liberties groups who argue that the program is an overreach of government power. Proponents of the program argue that it is a necessary tool in the fight against terrorism.
The documents related to the renewal are available on the FISC’s website, www.uscourts.gov, as well as on the website of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, www.dni.gov, and on the Department of Justice’s website, www.justice.gov.
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