Protect America Act of 2007

From dKosopedia

Categories: Civil Liberties | Intelligence

The Protect America Act of 2007 was passed in the waning days of the first session of the 110th United States Congress. This act was portrayed as a way to update the FISA Act to allow for changes in technology; however, it actually gutted the 4th Amendment by allowing warrantless wiretapping of any electronic communication which might "concern" foreigners, even if the conversation is between two U.S. citizens. Incredibly, the bill does not provide for any judicial or Congressional review of executive branch actions.

Legal Analysis of the Act

• FISA Update Is Total Information Awareness - compares House and Senate drafts with the bill that actually passed.
• Concern Over Wider Spying Under New Law, by James Risen and Eric Lightblau, New York Times, August 19, 2007
• Why the new FISA bill is even worse than you think
• Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com
• Marty Lederman
• Steve Benen at Talking Points Memo).

Text of the Act, Legislative History and Roll Call Vote

• from Thomas.loc.gov