USA Freedom Act would end mass collection of Internet data, bill's author says

The surveillance-limiting USA Freedom Act would address programs like the now-defunct bulk collection of data on Americans’ Internet activities, said Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the bill’s author. Rep Sensenbrenner said his bill -- also introduced in the Senate by Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) -- would increase the standards for data collection across the board. This includes the collection of phone records under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act, which was first reported in June, and the collection of email data under Section 402 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which was discussed in documents declassified by the Director of National Intelligence. Rep. Sensenbrenner said his bill aims to stop the mass spying of Americans under multiple surveillance authorities. Supporters of the USA Freedom Act want to ensure that the intelligence community can’t find new ways to conduct the mass surveillance, he said. Rep. Sensenbrenner said he is optimistic that his bill will pass if members can vote up or down on the floor. “I’d be willing to bet you that if we get that, we win,” he said.