Usa Freedom Act Of 2015

Electronic Frontier Foundation

USA FREEDOM Act: New Approach Effective November 29, 2015

Background

The USA Freedom Act, enacted on June 2, 2015, restored and modified provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The new approach to surveillance becomes effective on November 29, 2015, after a 6-month transition period from the previous system.

Key Changes

The USA Freedom Act introduces several significant changes, including: * Ban on Bulk Metadata Collection: The act prohibits the government from conducting bulk collection of metadata (e.g., phone numbers, email addresses) of American citizens without a warrant. * Judicial Review of Section 702 Orders: The act requires that any requests for surveillance under Section 702 (which allows the government to collect communications of non-U.S. persons outside the U.S.) be reviewed by a judge. * Transparency and Accountability: The act requires the government to release more information about its surveillance programs, subject to certain exceptions for national security reasons.

Significance

The USA Freedom Act represents a significant step towards addressing concerns about government surveillance. It balances the need for national security with the protection of civil liberties, ensuring that surveillance programs are conducted in a transparent and accountable manner.

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