If enacted, this legislation would have significant implications for how intelligence and surveillance operations are conducted in the United States. The bill mandates that no United States person should be targeted for surveillance under the Executive Order 12333 without obtaining a valid warrant based on probable cause. This requirement aims to reinstate privacy protections and ensure that any surveillance is legally justified, thus limiting the government's ability to collect information indiscriminately.
Summary
House Bill 4267, titled the 'Protect Our Civil Liberties Act,' aims to repeal the USA PATRIOT Act and the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. The bill seeks to restore previously existing laws and remove provisions that have, according to its proponents, infringed upon civil liberties and privacy rights of U.S. citizens. By repealing these controversial pieces of legislation, the bill addresses concerns around warrantless surveillance and the overreach of government surveillance powers that have been criticized for undermining individual privacy and freedoms.
Contention
The proposed repeal has sparked debate among legislators regarding the balance between national security and civil liberties. Supporters of HB4267 argue that it is a necessary move to protect individual rights and prevent government overreach, while critics warn that repealing the PATRIOT Act and the FISA Amendments may hinder law enforcement and national security efforts. This controversy highlights the ongoing tension between the need for security measures to combat threats and the imperative to safeguard civil rights.
Notable_provisions
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the destruction of certain data collected under the aforementioned acts and introduces annual audits to ensure compliance with new surveillance standards, aiming to enhance government accountability. By addressing whistleblower protections and prohibiting retaliation against those who report misuse of surveillance powers, HB4267 attempts to foster a culture of transparency within intelligence agencies.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that authorities under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 should be allowed to expire.
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Fourth Amendment Restoration Act This bill limits surveillance conducted for foreign intelligence purposes. Specifically, the bill repeals provisions authorizing without a court order various types of searches and surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes, including electronic surveillance and access to business records. An officer of the U.S. government must obtain a warrant for certain search and surveillance activities against a U.S. citizen, including (1) conducting electronic surveillance, (2) conducting physical searches of property under a U.S. citizen's exclusive control, or (3) targeting a U.S. citizen to acquire foreign intelligence information. The bill provides for criminal penalties for a person who knowingly violates these requirements or otherwise obtains such information under color of law without statutory authorization. Information about a U.S. citizen acquired under Executive Order 12333 (relating to intelligence gathering) or during surveillance of a non-U.S. citizen shall not be used against the U.S. citizen in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding or investigation.
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