Surveiling Only With Suspicion
This legislation will protect free speech rights in the face of an enormous expansion of government surveillance of lawful political and religious beliefs and activities. Whether in the name of national security or simply because new tools exist, law enforcement agencies increasingly monitor, collect, and share people's phone calls, e-mails, and records without evidence that the individuals are doing anything illegal.
Without clear limits, this surveillance targets innocent people and does not make us safer. In Washington, police have monitored and arrested citizens to prevent political demonstrations; military personnel have infiltrated law-abiding peace groups; and agencies have shared personal, non-criminal information via intelligence clearinghouses known as “fusion centers," with little transparency or accountability.
This bill will allow government to collect information about an individual's free speech, political, or religious activities only in relation to an ongoing criminal investigation. The measure also requires law enforcement agencies to accept only information gathered in ways that protect civil liberties. In addition, it will provide for independent oversight through external audits. And it will grant individuals a right to know whether their information is contained in government files and an ability to challenge statutory violations.
