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July 11, 2008

Yesterday, the Senate passed the newly updated Wiretapping Bill, with 69 votes in favor to 28 opposed.

The new bill is an updated version to the long overdue 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Members of Congress say this is in direct response to President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program in wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Among the bill’s many new regulations for government surveillance practices of U.S. and foreign suspects is a clause that retroactively protects telecom companies that may or may not have participated in the government’s warrantless program from privacy lawsuits waged by customers.

Since 2006, the telecom immunity clause has been a sticking point on the proposed bill.

President Bush said he would veto any version of the bill that didn’t include immunity. He added that he would sign the latest version of the bill, which he called “vital” and “long overdue.”

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Source: C.H.N.