Position: support
Status: Had a hearing in Senate, did not pass out of committee.
The Washington Enhanced Surveillance Act would allow government surveillance of a person’s political or religious views and activities only when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Local law enforcement agencies increasingly monitor, and collect phone calls, e-mails, and records – all without evidence of any criminal activity or intent by those being tracked. And the information collected is being shared ever more broadly among government agencies and even unaccountable private contractors.
This kind of broad surveillance without suspicion chills free speech. It makes innocent people hesitant to participate in activities protected by the First Amendment – like attending a political rally or visiting a place of worship. Further, suspicionless surveillance swamps law enforcement with useless information. It diverts attention from real security threats, wasting precious public safety resources. Political activism is the lifeblood of our democracy, and people should be able to participate in lawful political activities without fear of being tracked by the government.
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