The Global Network Initiative applauds the passage of the USA FREEDOM Act, a critical first step toward reforming surveillance practices that will help to protect freedom of expression and privacy rights. By ending the bulk collection of phone records and increasing the transparency and oversight of U.S. national security surveillance practices, the USA FREEDOM Act shows that government surveillance reform is possible. The U.S. government should build upon this act by considering further reforms to protect the rights of persons in the United States and around the world, and other governments should follow suit to reform their own surveillance laws, policies and practices to bring them into alignment with international human rights standards.
Statements by GNI participants:
Center for Democracy & Technology:
Victory: Passage of USA FREEDOM Act Reins in NSA Surveillance
Google:
Congress takes a significant step to reform government surveillance
Human Rights Watch:
US: Modest Step to Curb Spy Excesses
Microsoft:
Microsoft praises passage of the USA Freedom Act in the US Senate
Yahoo:
Statement on Passage of USA Freedom Act