Lawmakers aim to rein in administration on data-collection 'dragnet,' change law

FoxNews ^ | 6/7/13

[Jean S]

Republican and Democratic lawmakers already are plotting ways to rein in the Obama administration's mass collection of phone and Internet data, after a rapid-fire series of disclosures about the program set off privacy alarms. 

"This is a dragnet," Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., told Fox News on Friday. 

The latest development, as reported by The Guardian newspaper, is that the British government has also been secretly gathering intelligence from U.S. Internet companies via the U.S. National Security Agency data-mining project. That project, along with reports about a secret court order allowing the government to collect phone records for millions of Verizon customers, triggered a renewed debate this week over whether Americans are trading too much privacy for a sense of security. 

President Obama, speaking publicly for the first time on the controversy, said Friday that the programs have made a difference in tracking terrorists and are not tantamount to "Big Brother." 

Obama acknowledged that the U.S. government is collecting reams of phone records, including phone numbers and the duration of calls, but said this does not include listening to calls or gathering the names of callers

[MichiganConservative]

Jihad, I think the government needs to put a US Troop in each and every household. IT’s the only way to make sure the Jihad doesn’t kill us all!

I think I speak for all FReepers when I say “I’m so AFRAID! Save me!”.

[Chaguito]

And Congress will enforce these changes with the power of its armed forces...Oh wait, that won’t work.

OK, they’ll use the power of the purse...Oh, wait, that would require strength of character. Won’t fly.

Anyway, Obama would just order the Fed to raise the amount of printed money each month to fund the agencies doing his bidding. Just a little from here, a little from there, and voila! Everything goes on as before, and Congress look like obstructionists. And the emperor’s grip tightens.

Don’t see a smooth exit from our present predicament.

[cripplecreek]

Jihad, I think the government needs to put a US Troop in each and every household. IT’s the only way to make sure the Jihad doesn’t kill us all!

Hitler put a little gestapo agent in every house, at least those houses where children lived.

[houeto]

We’ve had nearly a decade of the patriot act and I fail to see any real justification of it even in its earliest form. Its morphed into a massive domestic spy tool with even less justification and it carries the added burden of being available to be used by anyone with access in any way they choose.

It is difficult for me to read these words from you.

[houeto]

Its got to be eliminated.

After my first post to you FRiend, I must add this one.

Please refer to drypowder's post in #13.

[houeto]

Good post MC, and I thank you for no sarc tag. Keep you and yours prepared FRiend.