As Congress resumes the debate on wiretapping legislation, People for the American Way and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have put together Stop the Spying, a site aimed at drawing attention to legislation that would grant immunity to the telecoms for complying with illegal, warrantless wiretapping of American citizens.
People are being asked to upload photos, videos or simply to make their feelings known the old-fashioned way — by contacting their senator. AT&T and other network providers are currently facing legal action for their role in helping the National Security Agency tap communications networks (the EFF is providing legal support to the plaintiffs).
The provision to grant immunity from prosecution for previous transgressions on the part of telecoms, from the House Intelligence Committee version of the bill, is seen by Republicans and President Bush as a deal breaker. “The Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America,” Bush declared in Monday night’s State of the Union Address.
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