Hi, News just broke that our campaign to end warrantless data collection in America faces direct opposition from the NSA. We now know U.S. intelligence officials at the National Security Agency (NSA) are lobbying Congress to block a measure to prevent the government from collecting Americans’ sensitive data without a warrant.1 Is it surprising? No, because intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been buying up data on Americans that should be protected by the Fourth Amendment. AND, this proves how important it is for grassroots supporters like you to get behind legislation that would prohibit U.S. military agencies, including the NSA, from "purchasing data that would otherwise require a warrant, court order, or subpoena."2 Powerful government agencies are lobbying Congress to stop these privacy protections, which have already passed the House.3 So, we need as many people to contact their Senators, counter the NSA’s lobbying, and stop the government’s illegal purchase of personal data. "Americans of all political stripes know their Constitutional rights shouldn’t disappear in the digital age," said Senator Ron Wyden, one of champions of increased privacy protections from warrantless data seizures.4 The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable search and seizure, meaning law enforcement needs a warrant to investigate alleged crimes. But Big Tech companies are collecting our data all the time. By purchasing this data from the tech companies, the government is able to bypass the constitutional protections courts have upheld over and over again — performing what Senator Wyden has called an "end-run around the Fourth Amendment."5 Corporate data brokers have been more than happy to sell our personal data to federal agencies and cops, who use it to violate our constitutional rights. And with federal agencies like the NSA lobbying to stop protections from the government’s warrantless data collection, it’s up to the people to let Congress know we demand protections for our sensitive data. An upcoming vote in the Senate could finally halt this wanton, illegal, warrantless data collection. Join Demand Progress and all of the grassroots activists calling on Congress to protect our Fourth Amendment rights! Add your name: Protect privacy, pass the Davidson-Jacobs amendment! Thanks for taking action, Sources:
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