Documents newly uncovered by the ACLU show that the NSA has collected over half a BILLION phone records under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act.

 

That's billion with a B.

 

Worse yet is they're using Section 215 to target political activists and people of color.

 

The corporate media is almost totally ignoring this issue, but not Common Dreams. We're shining a bright light on Trump's PATRIOT Act abuses, and we count on your donations to support our hard-hitting journalism.

 

Will you chip in to help Common Dreams blow the whistle on Trump's mass government surveillance under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act?

 

Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act has been nothing more than legalized mass surveillance. Under the program, the government can collect data on who you called, how long you talked to them, and more—and they don't need a warrant or probable cause.

 

That's a threat to everyone's privacy—but especially the privacy of people of color and immigrants. The FBI's recent designation of "Black Identity Extremists" as domestic terrorists has allowed the Trump administration to spy on Black Lives Matter activists. People who communicate with family and friends overseas are particularly exposed.

 

The Trump administration doesn't have a shred of evidence to show that this spying program is making us safer. Yet it's pushing to make this data collection permanent.

 

It is past time for Congress to outlaw warrantless government data collection that threatens all our privacy and puts vulnerable communities in harm's way. Lawmakers can do just that this December, when the law is set to expire.

 

Common Dreams is shining a spotlight on how government spying threatens our privacy and harms vulnerable communities.

 

Will you chip to help support nonprofit journalism and help expose Trump’s mass surveillance?

Thank you for all you do,

Jon Queally
Managing Editor
for the whole Common Dreams news team