Should Congress Give Telecoms Immunity?
Should Congress Give Telecoms Immunity? Monday January 28, 2008 Senate Vote Set For Monday; Details On 12 Key Senators The Senate has scheduled a cloture vote Monday afternoon at 4.30 EST over FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) legislation that would provide immunity for telecom firms. This current impasse highlights the age-old tension between individual liberty and government surveillance. FISA was enacted almost 30 years ago in reaction to government abuses of electronic surveillance for national security purposes, and most American voters (63%) still believe that the government should have to get a warrant before tapping conversations of US citizens. Moreover, about 6-in-10 “reject immunity for phone companies that may have violated the law by selling customers private information to the government, pre
