Today is a great day for privacy rights advocates. That’s because the NSA halted, at least for now, a practice many hate. The NSA change: a step towards the right direction.
So starting April 28, 2017, the NSA will no longer collect certain emails and texts. Such email and texts are with people overseas that include information. For example, you have a friend or college in China. You email and text them, and then you include a phone number or email address. The NSA will no longer collect or scrutinize that kind of email. This practice started with the Patriot Act of 2001. But for years, privacy rights and Fourth Amendment advocates screamed this was unlawful.
However, the Constitution isn’t responsible for this NSA change. We can thank the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. What the NSA did violated their rules. So since this kind of NSA spying reached overseas, the foreign courts takes ruling over anything the NSA did. So yes, they practiced this kind of spying since the early 2000s. But much of it didn’t come to light until 2013. That year, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden exposed many of his former employer’s tactics. Mr. Snowden’s expose let to outrage and advocacy. Edward Snowden praised this NSA change. In a tweet, he said, “The truth changed everything”.
So yes, it seems that way. This NSA change is definitely a step in the right direction. But what grieves me is that it took an international law to change this. But thankfully, it’s changing. For years, political leaders, IT service leaders, and advocates have held the NSA’s feet to the fire. Now, it looks like global leaders are, too. And it’s working. But this is the beginning. Only the beginning. We should continue to educate the public about illegal and immoral spying. Knowledge is power, and power leads to change. What other changes need to be made?