Feds' privacy panel backs renewing Feds' S. 702 spying powers — but with limits

A privacy panel within the US government today narrowly recommended that Congress reauthorize the Feds' Section 702 spying powers — but with some stronger protections for US persons. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board voted 3-2 on party lines to support all 19 recommendations in the Section 702 report, including …

[stiine]

"Although the Section 702 program presents serious risks to, and actual intrusions upon, the privacy and civil liberties of both Americans and non-Americans, the United States is safer with the Section 702 program than without it," the panel said in a report [PDF] published on Thursday.

Tough shit. We would rather be more free than more spied upon. Also, safer from whom?

[Michael Wojcik]

So close

Instead of changing the surveillance program itself, the board's minority suggests reforming the FBI

Now, if only they'd started with "in addition to", they might have had something.

I doubt these restrictions, if they even make it into the reauthorization, will have much effect. Who monitors for violations, and how? What are the consequences of violating the restrictions? I haven't looked into the details, but this all could be completely toothless.