Court Briefly Returns NSA Surveillance Program

nsa05232015getty.jpg?itok=vFc9WZB-

A US federal court has made an order that the National Security Agency can resume the bulk collection of American’s phone records for roughly five months as the program is phased out.

Under the recent law aimed at ending the surveillance program, the USA Freedom Act, the government has a six-month transition period in which to continue collecting phone records.
In an order published by National Journal, a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judge said that the program could continue for the remainder of that transition period.

“This application presents the question whether the recently-enacted USA FREEDOM Act, in amending Title V of FISA, ended the bulk collection of telephone metadata,” Judge Michael W. Mosman wrote.

“The short answer is yes. But in doing so, Congress deliberately carved out a 180-day period following the date of enactment in which such collection was specifically authorized.”

The ruling was in response to a government request to continue the program.

“The government respectfully submits that it may seek and this court may issue an order for the bulk production of tangible things,” the Justice Department said in a memo less than an hour after the USA Freedom Act was signed into law earlier this month.

The Justice Department and the office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed the resumption of the metadata program in a statement but noted that it moves forward for the remaining transition period under new restrictions instituted in 2014 after a push by President Obama.

"During the transition period, absent a true emergency, telephony metadata can only be queried after a judicial finding that there is a reasonable, articulable suspicion that the selection term is associated with an approved international terrorist organization," the statement says. "In addition, the query results must be limited to metadata within two hops of the selection term instead of three."

The American Civil Liberties Union indicated it would push back against the ruling. “Neither the statute nor the Constitution permits the government to subject millions of innocent people to this kind of intrusive surveillance," said Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer. "We intend to ask the Second Circuit to prohibit the surveillance and to order the NSA to purge the records it's already collected."

Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, in consort with FreedomWorks, briefed the surveillance court on concerns raised by the government’s application to continue the program. Under the new law, the court will have a panel of experts to consult on controversial privacy cases — but that body hasn’t been created yet.

The passage of the USA Freedom Act marked the zenith of a debate over the program sparked by revelations about its existence and scope from leaker Edward Snowden.
The Hill: http://bit.ly/1JBl1qP

« Europol Tackles Cybercrime Ring
Merkel Bugged While Pondering Greece Crisis »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

LockLizard

LockLizard

Locklizard provides PDF DRM software that protects PDF documents from unauthorized access and misuse. Share and sell documents securely - prevent document leakage, sharing and piracy.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

44CON

44CON

44CON is an Information Security Conference & Training event taking place in London. Designed to provide something for the business and technical Information Security professional.

MyCERT

MyCERT

MyCERT is the National Computer Emergency Response Team of Malaysia.

NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors

NXP is a world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications and the Internet of Things.

One Identity

One Identity

One Identity delivers identity governance, access management, and privileged account management solutions that facilitate and secure your digital transformation.

HYAS Infosec

HYAS Infosec

HYAS is a highly skilled information security firm developing the next generation of information security technology.

HudsonCyber

HudsonCyber

HudsonCyber, part of HudsonAnalytix, provides leading cyber risk management services for the global maritime transportation industry.

Arcanum Information Security (AIS)

Arcanum Information Security (AIS)

Arcanum Information Security is a specialist Information Assurance Consultancy and a leading provider of Cyber Security services to UK Defence, UK Government, Enterprise businesses and SMEs.

HorizonIQ

HorizonIQ

HorizonIQ (formerly Internap Corp / INAP) maximizes efficiency and innovation with flexible infrastructure solutions.

QuillAudits

QuillAudits

QuillAudits offers advanced Ethereum, EOS, TRON smart contract audit, blockchain protocol security and formal verification to ensure your platform’s integrity.

RedHunt Labs

RedHunt Labs

RedHunt Labs is a premier Cybersecurity Solutions provider, offering Attack Surface Management solution 'NVADR' and Penetration Testing services.

Lancera

Lancera

Lancera provides growth accelerating Software Development, Web Presence and Cybersecurity Solutions with a focus on customer happiness.

Purism

Purism

Purism works with hardware component manufactures and the free software community to build high quality hardware that respects your digital life.

HashDit

HashDit

HashDit products and services focus on helping build a safe ecosystem for both protocol users and smart contract developers on BNB Chain.

Credo AI

Credo AI

Credo have pioneered a Responsible AI platform that enables context driven, comprehensive and continuous governance, oversight and accountability of AI.

HYCU

HYCU

HYCU was born of the need to simplify data protection and provide equivalent levels of backup and recovery support across on premises, public cloud, and SaaS workloads.

Clear Ridge Defense

Clear Ridge Defense

Clear Ridge was founded in April 2015 with the mission and vision to support Joint, Service Cyber Components, and commercial clients in specialized cyber support.