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Supreme court to review US overseas surveillance powers
The supreme court has agreed to hear a case that tests the extent of the US government's power to eavesdrop on electronic communications.
Justices will decide whether a group of attorneys, journalists and human rights groups have the right to challenge a 2008 federal law that gave US intelligence agencies greater powers to monitor overseas communications, including phone calls and emails.
At issue is a ruling by a US appeals court in New York that the plaintiffs have the legal right to proceed with their challenge to a 2008 amendment to the law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This was challenged by the Obama administration.
The 2008 amendment allows intelligence agencies to eavesdrop on overseas communications more widely and with less judicial oversight than in the past.
The change meant the US government does not have to submit to a special judge an individualized application to monitor a non-American overseas.
Justices will decide whether a group of attorneys, journalists and human rights groups have the right to challenge a 2008 federal law that gave US intelligence agencies greater powers to monitor overseas communications, including phone calls and emails.
At issue is a ruling by a US appeals court in New York that the plaintiffs have the legal right to proceed with their challenge to a 2008 amendment to the law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This was challenged by the Obama administration.
The 2008 amendment allows intelligence agencies to eavesdrop on overseas communications more widely and with less judicial oversight than in the past.
The change meant the US government does not have to submit to a special judge an individualized application to monitor a non-American overseas.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/may/21/supreme-court-government-overseas-surveillance
