Markey Demands Answers on Bush Administration's Plan to Turn Spy Satellites on Americans

MARKEY DEMANDS ANSWERS ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S PLAN TO TURN SPY SATELLITES ON AMERICANS
[SOURCE: Rep Ed Markey]
Rep Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff seeking answers in response to reports that the Bush Administration will undertake an unprecedented expansion in the use of advanced spy satellites for surveillance of Americans. The letter requests answers to several questions about the new program, including: What legal assessments of this new surveillance program have been performed? What policies and procedures will the Department implement to ensure that Americans’ privacy and civil rights are protected once this new surveillance program begins operation? How will new guidelines be developed to govern this program and will the public have the opportunity to comment on and review the guidelines? Will the Department of Homeland Security or any of the civilian agencies that utilize the imagery and/or other output from the spy satellites retain any of this information after it has been evaluated? What privacy and security safeguards will be used for the storage of the information? How will the Department handle complaints from individuals subject to surveillance under this program? Has the Department consulted with the Federal Communications Commission or the Department of Commerce about the commercial and competitive implications of utilizing government-owned and operated military assets for domestic uses?
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