USA Freedom Act Approved by Senate and Signed by President Obama -- Security Today

USA Freedom Act Approved by Senate and Signed by President Obama

By Ginger Hill
Jun 03, 2015

The Senate has officially passed the USA Freedom Act which could mean more restraint and restrictions when it comes to government surveillance powers. Created in response to Section 215 of the Patriot Act that allowed the government to collect huge amounts of phone record data from major telecommunication companies, the USA Freedom Act passed with a vote of 67 to 32.

The USA Freedom Act was initially proposed after Edward Snowden revealed a series of leaked documents; however, Congress didn’t respond too favorably. The act eventually passed the House, but it has taken the Senate a bit longer to agree.

Just hours after it passed, President Obama signed it which means that three key sections of the Patriot Act that expired at midnight on Sunday, May 31, 2015 will be restored and extended through 2019. Also, Section 215 will be changed, stopping NSA from continuing its mass phone data collection program. Phone companies will retain this data and the only way NSA can obtain information about targeted individuals is with permission from a federal court.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

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