Surveillance authorities in the United States have long been due for an update. The last time Congress passed meaningful, far-reaching legislation to protect Americans’ constitutional rights and consumer privacy was in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, when the Church Committee revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies had been spying on Americans—especially Black Americans—for decades. Those laws have struggled to keep up with the developments of the internet and the strengthening of intrusive surveillance programs after 9/11. Today, we see similar patterns to those the Church Committee saw in the 1970s—the government is again spying on Americans, and disproportionately targeting protesters, Black Americans, and other marginalized communities. The Brennan Center is thus urging the new Congress to take steps to restore American’s constitutional rights and create a sustainable legal framework for privacy in the digital age.
Coalition Letter Urges Congress to Restore Constitutional Limits on Surveillance by The Brennan Center for Justice on Scribd
