Leahy scuttles his warrantless e-mail surveillance bill

Sen. Patrick Leahy has abandoned his controversial proposal that would grant government agencies more surveillance power — including warrantless access to Americans’ e-mail accounts — than they possess under current law.

The Vermont Democrat said today on Twitter that he would “not support such an exception” for warrantless access. The remarks came a few hours after a CNET article was published this morning that disclosed the existence of the measure.

A vote on the proposal in the Senate Judiciary committee, which Leahy chairs, is scheduled for next Thursday. The amendments were due to be glued onto a substitute to H.R. 2471, which the House of Representatives already has approved.

» via CNET

Notes

  1. wishinoo reblogged this from journo-geekery
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  3. chrischelberg reblogged this from infoneer-pulse and added:
    Good news. I’m very glad he took this step. A bill like this, would be no bill at all. infoneer-pulse:
  4. infoneer-pulse posted this