Coalition letter on CLOUD Act

A coalition of privacy, civil liberties, and human rights organizations sent this letter to Congress urging opposition to S. 2383/H.R. 4943, the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD Act), legislation at risk of being included in the March omnibus. The CLOUD Act undermines the rights of individuals both inside and outside the U.S. The legislation would, among other things: (1) allow foreign governments to wiretap on U.S. soil under standards that do not comply with U.S. law; (2) give the executive branch the power to enter into foreign agreements without Congressional approval, including in cases where countries have a concerning human rights record; (3) allow foreign governments to obtain information that could pertain to individuals in the U.S. without meeting constitutional standards; and (4) possibly facilitate foreign government access to information that is used to commit human rights abuses, like torture.