ACLU Comment on President Obama's Proposed Surveillance Reforms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

WASHINGTON – American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony D. Romero responded to President Obama’s four recommendations to reform the government’s surveillance policies and programs made at a press conference today with the following statement:

“While the initial reforms outlined by the president are a necessary and welcome first step, they are not nearly sufficient. The bulk collection of Americans’ phone records is only one of several troubling programs disclosed over the last two months. The president must work with members of Congress to reform all of these surveillance programs, including those authorized by Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, which collect, monitor and retain the contents of Americans’ communications without a warrant. We also urge the president to release the relevant FISA Court opinions and agency memos that have created a body of secret law that is far removed from public oversight and adequate congressional review. We must ensure that the government’s surveillance programs once again adhere to the protections afforded by the Fourth Amendment.”