Federal Privacy Board Recommends Ending NSA Phone Records Programs, Calls it “Illegal”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: media@aclu.org

WASHINGTON – The government’s Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has concluded that the NSA’s mass domestic phone spying is illegal, ineffective, and should end.

American Civil Liberties Union Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer, who testified before the board in July, had this reaction:

“We welcome the board’s report, and we agree with is principal conclusions. The NSA’s call-records dragnet is illegal and ineffective and presents a serious threat to civil liberties. The board’s report makes even clearer that the government’s surveillance policies, as well as our system of oversight, are in need of far-reaching reform. The report should spur immediate action by both the administration and Congress.”

The 238-page report is expected to be released this afternoon, and advance copies were obtained by news outlets. The PCLOB was created by Congress on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, and its five members were appointed by President Obama.

More information on NSA spying is at:
aclu.org/nsa-surveillance