The future of the National Security’s Agency controversial Patriot Act Program is in doubt as the US Senate failed to agree to extend the law pass its June 1 deadline. It was announced early Saturday morning that after an overnight meeting, key measures that would have allowed the Patriot Act– a law that allows the US government to collect data on its citizens’ private and public communications– were blocked.
What Measures Did the Senate Block to Prevent the NSA Surveillance Program?
The US Senate blocked two important measures that would uphold the lifespan of the Patriot Act. The first measure sought to not only shift data storage responsibilities from the government to the telecommunications companies but to also restrict the multitude of ways the government can access the data information. It failed to pass in a 57-42 vote. The seeking measure requested a two-month extension in order to bypass the current June 1 expiration date. This measure was also dismissed with a 54-45 vote.
Why Is The Patriot Act Controversial?
The Patriot Act first came into play in late 2001, in the immediate weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In an effort to prevent similar attacks in the future, and to also speed the process of finding those responsible for the World Trade Center attacks, then President George W. Bush and Congress signed a new law that allowed intelligence agencies and law enforcement to collect and store information on citizens they suspect of terrorist activity without warrant.
This means records, electronic correspondence, Internet histories, phone conversations, and papers can be monitored by the government if they have reason to a citizen is conducting, or is supporting, terrorist activities. The patriot act also allows for wire-tapping and the surveillance of suspicious non-citizens.
US citizens and lawmakers alike disagree on whether this level of surveillance, especially when done without the general public’s knowledge, infringes on privacy and human rights.
Is the Patriot Act Really Needed?
To date, the Patriot Act has not been credited with preventing a terrorist plot. And after Edward Snowden leaked classified information that exposed the extent of the secret programs used to collect data on Americans and other countries, people have become even more suspicious of the program.
Opponents of the Patriot Act say that the law is revoking its citizens right to privacy, while supporters, including President Obama, maintain that these programs are essential in protecting the United States from domestic and overseas violence.
Is This Really the End of the Patriot Act?
The Senate has planned another meeting set to begin on May 31. They will once again attempt to come to an agreement that ensures the continuation of the Patriot Act and also leaves opponents more secure with the amount of data collected and the methods use to gain this data.
The NSA is already reducing data collection in the possibility of all measures to keep the Patriot Act alive fail again.
