Democrats in the House of Representatives were thought to be loosening up in their opposition to including retroactive telco immunity in new surveillance legislation, but there are new signs that the House Dems won't budge. A new draft bill that legalizes the federal government's ability to fast-track blanket wiretapping, e-mail and instant message surveillance, but does not support retroactive telco immunity is said to be making the rounds among members of the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees. Those opposing telco immunity also are reportedly proposing that a commission be established to investigate past surveillance activities and the issues surrounding telco immunity. National intelligence director Michael McConnell is said to be against the draft bill even though it gives the feds the ongoing surveillance power they had wanted.
For more:
- check this post at Wired News Blogs
Related articles:
- McConnell and others have been adamant about telco immunity