Alan Butler Executive Director and President | Official website
In response to proposed amendments that would expand Section 702 of the base text on government surveillance, Chris Baumohl, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), expressed strong concerns. Baumohl highlighted the potential implications of these amendments, stating, “As if the base text wasn’t bad enough, these amendments would all significantly expand Section 702. In particular, the weaponization of a post-9/11 warrantless surveillance authority to search for immigrants traveling to the U.S.—with no suspicion of wrongdoing whatsoever—is deeply offensive and should be radioactive.”
The prospect of broadening surveillance powers to target immigrants without any basis of suspicion has raised alarm among privacy advocates. Baumohl's remarks underscore the contentious nature of these proposed changes and the need for careful consideration of their potential impact on civil liberties.
As discussions on government surveillance continue, voices like Baumohl's from EPIC serve to draw attention to the importance of balancing security concerns with the protection of individual rights and freedoms. The final decisions on the fate of these amendments will undoubtedly shape the landscape of government surveillance in the United States.
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