Washington, March 13: Protesters in Washington have put pressure on the Obama administration to repeal the controversial Patriot Act, which allows the government to violate Americans’ privacy without a warrant.
“The American citizenry has been giving up their rights over the last eleven years. It’s a shame that someone like George Bush, who came into power, thought he could just tear up parts of our constitution,” Tighe Barry of CODEPINK told media at the rally outside the White House.
Congress is now considering extending the Patriot Act with smack change.
If passed, the bill would extend the government’s authority to use roving wiretaps on multiple electronic devices, obtain court-approved access to business records and perform surveillance on suspects not linked to specific terrorist groups.
Those who oppose the bill are hoping to make one final attempt to stop it from going through.
“It creates a very ‘Big Brother’ atmosphere where the government can monitor everything,” Ginger McCall of the Electronic Privacy Information Center told media.
An approved version of the bill — that extends the Patriot Act through 2013 — will head to a full Senate vote, which experts say is likely to pass.
—Agencies