The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), along with 27 civil society organizations, has issued a letter to Congressional leaders expressing concern over the recent dismissal of three members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). The organizations argue that these firings compromise the Board's independence, which is vital for its role in overseeing surveillance activities and protecting citizens' rights.

The letter calls on Congress to "re-double its own oversight activities given the harm to PCLOB, as well as to restore the Board’s independence, shield it from interference, and strengthen PCLOB so it can again perform its vital work protecting Americans’ rights and guarding against improper surveillance."

Originally established following recommendations by the 9-11 Commission, PCLOB has been instrumental in uncovering inaccuracies regarding mass surveillance programs and advocating for legislative reforms. The coalition warns that allowing at-will terminations could enable any administration to prevent scrutiny of controversial surveillance practices by removing board members who investigate sensitive issues.

Concerns are also raised about the impact on international data agreements. The letter notes that "PCLOB plays a crucial role in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework," which facilitates data transfer between Europe and the U.S., emphasizing that weakening PCLOB might jeopardize this arrangement.

The full list of signatories includes prominent groups such as Access Now, American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation, among others. They urge swift congressional action to preserve PCLOB's capacity to function independently and effectively.