WASHINGTON, DC - Barack Obama initially said that he would protect civil liberties, which is why many were disappointed when he voted for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. That act increased the surveillance power of the government and ensured that larger telecom companies would not be held liable for wiretapping conducted during the George W. Bush administration. Last week, Congress voted to once again authorize some of the provisions of the USA Patriot Act. The vote reauthorizes the provisions without adding the recommended safeguards for personal privacy. Opponents note that the vote allows the government to access detailed information about customers from telecommunications companies, essentially offering additional surveillance powers to government agencies.

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