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(image source: Digital Trends)
BY EVAN THOMAS
It appears the government shutdown isn't slowing the NSA down much — just days ago the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Court renewed the NSA's phone metadata collection program.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declassified the existence of a court order
Friday that renews the NSA's mandate. The disclosure is consistent with James Clapper's
recent efforts to grant the public an understanding of the NSA's program. (Via MSNBC)
"DNI Clapper has decided to declassify and disclose publicly that the government filed
an application with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court seeking renewal of the
authority to collect telephony metadata in bulk, and that the court renewed that authority."
So all that's really been declassified here is that the FISC has waved the NSA's phone
program through for another month. Still, Engadget points out, it's progress.
"With analysts still able to paw through tons of our data this doesn't quite feel like the
transparency promised, but even this small admission that it's happening highlights how
things have changed.
But critics continue to question the usefulness of the program. As Techdirt writes:
"In the last three months, we've also learned that this program of collecting data on every
phone call in the US has been necessary to stop precisely zero attacks in the US."
The Hill reports Senator Patrick Leahy and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner are working on legislation
that would stop the NSA's phone data collection. Leahy says the program is too broad.
"While I appreciate the recent efforts by the Court and the administration to be more
transparent, it is clear that transparency alone is not enough."
It's not clear exactly how long the renewal will keep the NSA's phone collection running,
though an earlier set of declassified documents show the program was previously renewed for
a 90-day period. (Via The U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court)
A spokesman for Senator Leahy's office said his bill would be introduced once the ongoing
government shutdown is dealt with.