December 6, 2006
Action Alert - Stop the Immunity Give-Away to Telecommunications Companies
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The telecommunications industry is pushing legislation that would give the industry complete immunity for violating our rights by handing over our phone call records to the NSA. The Bush administration’s illegal warrantless wiretapping program was made possible because the telephone companies turned over private phone records.
The House-passed H.R. 5825, the "Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act," includes a provision that would preempt pending investigations commenced under state law, and others based on federal law, and provide immunity to the telecommunications companies.
One provision of S. 2389, the "Protecting Consumer Phone Records Act," which is still pending before the Senate, would also end state law-based investigations and immunize telecommunication companies. Congress must reject attempts to provide immunity to these companies.
Please read this ACLU letter sent to all senators regarding S. 2389
There is also talk in Washington, D.C. about the possibility of inserting sentences in a continuing resolution for the federal budget this week. All of these measures must be strenuously opposed if these companies are to be held accountable for breaking laws.
Please contact your congressional representatives and tell them that you oppose any measures that grant immunity to telecommunications companies for releasing our private phone records to the government without warrants.
You can contact the Utah members of Congress directly by clicking on these links:
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the government its power and the Bill of Rights restricts that
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The ACLU of Utah works to ensure that our government respects
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