U.S. Government Now Is Allowed to Monitor Their Citizens' Phone Calls Without Warrant.
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: World
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The United States Congress decided to amend a controversial existing law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, in early August. But instead of altering the cause of the controversy, some believe Congress made it more notorious. This new contentious bill is named the Protect America Act of 2007.
The new bill allows the monitoring of phone calls between people in the United States and people who are "reasonably believed to be outside the United States." There also is no need for a warrant, just a notification within the 72 hours of the authorization. Data monitoring is allowed if intelligence officials believe they have reasonable expectations with their investigation. This bill also states that the Director of the National Intelligence and the Attorney General have the authority to watch all surveillance on any target, including foreigners.
Many citizens have decried this new bill. those on the left claim that it infringes on people's rights to privacy and compromises the Constitution, especially the fourth amendment.
First-year Andy Heinz said, "(It's just) another ploy of the Bush administration."
Heinz isn't alone in his opinions on the Guilford campus. Robert Duncan, assistant professor of political science, agrees with the sentiment.
Duncan said, "Congress is caving into political blackmail (by passing this bill)."
Duncan feels that the current administration has pressured members of Congress into giving in by accusing them of being supporters of terrorism, or being unpatriotic.
According to Duncan, the last times something along these lines occurred was during McCarthyism, with the House of Un-American Activities Committee, and during the Vietnam war when President Richard Nixon approved clandestine breaking into buildings and tapping phones.
Despite popular sentiment, there are conservatives who see this bill as addressing a national need for foreign wiretapping. They believe that the government should have the ability to gain awareness of what is happening abroad, especially in regions where potential threats are located. For conservatives, the real issue with the bill comes with the domestic portion. The bill states that phone calls can be monitored if they involve people within the United States and allows physical searches of American businesses.
In a press conference President Bush said, regarding Congress passing this new bill, "The law gives our intelligence professionals the legal tools and authority they need to keep America safe."
Stefani Giglia, a third-year, said, "This decision a clear violation of freedom."
Duncan sees this bill as "throwing out" the principles that the United States was built upon. But Duncan also argues that he isn't surprised by the bill being created because Great Britain has had the ability to tap their citizen's phones for years.
Despite the potential reach and ramifications of Protect America Act of 2007, Duncan is optimistic, speculating that the Democrats will sweep Congress and the Presidency in the upcoming election and thereby bring back to the country a "government by the people instead of by the wealthy."
The new bill allows the monitoring of phone calls between people in the United States and people who are "reasonably believed to be outside the United States." There also is no need for a warrant, just a notification within the 72 hours of the authorization. Data monitoring is allowed if intelligence officials believe they have reasonable expectations with their investigation. This bill also states that the Director of the National Intelligence and the Attorney General have the authority to watch all surveillance on any target, including foreigners.
Many citizens have decried this new bill. those on the left claim that it infringes on people's rights to privacy and compromises the Constitution, especially the fourth amendment.
First-year Andy Heinz said, "(It's just) another ploy of the Bush administration."
Heinz isn't alone in his opinions on the Guilford campus. Robert Duncan, assistant professor of political science, agrees with the sentiment.
Duncan said, "Congress is caving into political blackmail (by passing this bill)."
Duncan feels that the current administration has pressured members of Congress into giving in by accusing them of being supporters of terrorism, or being unpatriotic.
According to Duncan, the last times something along these lines occurred was during McCarthyism, with the House of Un-American Activities Committee, and during the Vietnam war when President Richard Nixon approved clandestine breaking into buildings and tapping phones.
Despite popular sentiment, there are conservatives who see this bill as addressing a national need for foreign wiretapping. They believe that the government should have the ability to gain awareness of what is happening abroad, especially in regions where potential threats are located. For conservatives, the real issue with the bill comes with the domestic portion. The bill states that phone calls can be monitored if they involve people within the United States and allows physical searches of American businesses.
In a press conference President Bush said, regarding Congress passing this new bill, "The law gives our intelligence professionals the legal tools and authority they need to keep America safe."
Stefani Giglia, a third-year, said, "This decision a clear violation of freedom."
Duncan sees this bill as "throwing out" the principles that the United States was built upon. But Duncan also argues that he isn't surprised by the bill being created because Great Britain has had the ability to tap their citizen's phones for years.
Despite the potential reach and ramifications of Protect America Act of 2007, Duncan is optimistic, speculating that the Democrats will sweep Congress and the Presidency in the upcoming election and thereby bring back to the country a "government by the people instead of by the wealthy."
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