Interest Groups Sue US Government Over Leaked NSA Programs
Several interest groups are suing the US government regarding the NSA surveillance programs exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden. In all, 19 organizations have signed their names to the lawsuit.
Among the interest groups are a gun manufacturer, marijuana legalization advocates, church leaders, and others who normally struggle to find a common ground.
However, on the NSA’s surveillance programs, they found it. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday by San Francisco’s Electronic Frontier Foundation, which is representing the plaintiffs.
The groups are seeking an injunction against the NSA, Justice Department, FBI, and directors of all three agencies. It challenges what the plaintiffs allege to be an illegal and unconstitutional program involving dragnet electronic surveillance.
The lawsuit against the US government comes after Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked details about the NSA’s surveillance programs to the public. The suit adds that the plaintiffs all subscribe to Verizon and other phone carriers mentioned in the leaked documents.
The injunction would require the operation of the Associational Tracking Program to stop. The NSA would also have to return and/or destroy communication information it possesses.
The interest groups suing the US government have added that the NSA’s collection of bulk information is done without probable cause that the plaintiffs have committed any crime or been involved in terrorist activity. It includes a Uniterian church, an Islamic advocacy group, and a gun rights organization.
The lawsuit against Edward Snowden continues his plea for asylum. While Venezuela and other South American countries have granted him the request, there is no safe way for him to travel from the Moscow airport where he currently resides to safety.
The White House has also asked Russia again to hand over the NSA whistleblower, who has been charged with espionage related to the NSA documents leak. It is not yet clear if Russia will give into the US government’s demands.
Would you consider joining the lawsuit against the federal government over the recent NSA surveillance leaks?
