The PATRIOT Act renewal bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee without key civil liberties reforms attached.
Missed opportunities for reform include: requiring the government to show a connection to a suspected terrorist or spy in seeking Americans’ records through National Security Letters (NSLs); letting the “lone wolf” wiretapping authority expire; stopping the government from using the FISA Amendments Act to collect Americans’ phone calls and internet communications in bulk.
EFF advocates attaching the JUSTICE Act to the renewal bill when it’s debated by the full Senate.