Have you ever jokingly said during a phone conversation or in an email or text that you hope the government isn’t listening in?
Well, it’s not such a funny joke these days. The AP reported on recently released FBI domestic surveillance guidelines last week, which reveal broad and unclear authority to spy on Americans who are not involved in crime or terrorism. Acting Director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office Michael Macleod-Ball noted the FBI’s history of abusing its authority to spy on people. He calls for “clear, bright, and easily understood” guidelines in order to prevent abuses of power and for greater accountability when abuse of power does occur.
In other privacy efforts, the ACLU today appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit challenging an unconstitutional government spying law. The ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union filed the landmark lawsuit in July 2008 to stop the government from conducting surveillance under the FISA Amendments Act, which gives the executive branch virtually unchecked power to sweep up Americans' international e-mails and telephone calls. A US District Judge dismissed the case, saying that the plaintiff’s cannot prove standing since they cannot prove their communications had been monitored. The secrecy of the surveillance makes it possible that that no one will ever be able to prove what the court says is required, which is why the ACLU is appealed the dismissal.
I hope that through our efforts, one day we won’t have to joke about the government spying on us without our knowledge.
