SC Dismisses Challenge to Surveillance Law

[Hasina]

Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to Surveillance Law

The U.S. Supreme Court decided in a 5-4 vote Tuesday to refuse to let Americans challenge the eavesdropping law.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, was originally passed to allow spying on other country’s communications. But RT reportsthe act was greatly expanded in 2008.

“Under the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (FAA), the NSA is allowed to conduct electronic surveillance on any US citizen as long as they are suspected of conversing with any person located outside of the United States.”

A lawsuit by several organisations, including Amnesty International, says the act lets the government use “dragnet surveillance,” monitoring all kinds of communications without having to prove any national security interest to a judge. WLWT reports the suit was filed...

“...by a group of lawyers, journalists and activists... who were concerned the government could eavesdrop on communications with clients and sources.”

Instead of hearing the case, the Supreme Court dismissed the claims that the plaintiffs were being watched, saying they had no standing because none of them had been actually harmed by the policy.

Source: http://www.newsy.com...bX3WBQBHjgAA0qs

Edited February 27, 2013 by Hasina

[lightly]

maybe Bush junior was right... the constitution is just a (descriptor) piece of paper?

[Dan'O]

What do they want to protect anyway? The country has gone to ****. Thanks to them and their overlords there is not to much to protect anymore.

[Ashotep]

In the last decade our rights have been systematical flushed down the toilet. Give them time and we won't have any.

[Babe Ruth]

maybe Bush junior was right... the constitution is just a (descriptor) piece of paper?

He was right. This decision is very much in character for a lawless government.

[No Censorship]

The NSA had a similar arrangement with various governments for years. Our spies can eavesdrop on phone calls of people in other countries. Their spooks can eavesdrop on phone calls of Americans. Now, add emails and texts to the mix. IIRC, the eavesdropping goes back to the 1970s. British and other spies listened to Americans. American spies listened to people in the allied countries. My guess is that they spy on their own citizens now.

[AsteroidX]

-1 SCOTUS