Intellectual Property Law

Tell Congress "No Deal on Telecom Immunity!"

By Richard Esguerra

A new FISA bill is being drafted behind closed doors. Although it may appear quiet on the Hill right now, reports indicate that high-ranking Republicans and Democrats are hoping that a "compromise" foreign intelligence surveillance bill can be rushed through both the House and the Senate before the July 4th holiday -- maybe even next week.

Although details are scarce, one thing is clear: the "compromise" is almost certain to contain blanket immunity for phone companies that assisted in the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program, and prevent any court from ruling on whether they broke the law. Also, the new bill could transfer the cases to the secretive and conservative FISA court, whose only role for the past thirty years has been to sign off on government surveillance requests.

We've stopped telecom immunity in its tracks before, but the empty "compromise" rhetoric surrounding this bill makes it extremely dangerous. Please contact your Senators and Congressperson to remind them that we're watching, and that we won't accept any false compromises on immunity for lawbreaking telecoms!

More info:

• EFF Deeplinks: Senators Dodd and Feingold Criticize Bond's False FISA "Compromise"
• EFF Deeplinks: Debunking Republican Spin on Fake Telecom Immunity "Compromise" in Today's NYT
• EFF Deeplinks: What Will Happen to Surveillance in August 2008

Full post as published by Electronic Freedom Foundation - Deep Links on June 11, 2008 (boomark / email).