Believe it or not, I am still interested in things outside the presidential election. I am a big fan and supporter of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). I think their work is some of the most important civil action going on in the United States these days. That’s why I’m so proud they are still fighting for an American public that is largely asleep at the wheel. I’m talking about the unconstitutional wiretapping that has been going on for years (and continues today) with the explicit support of the major telecommunications companies in this country. I’m also talking about the unconstitutional, retroactive immunity that was given to those same companies this past summer by the U.S. Congress (Note: Obama voted in favor of it, McCain didn’t vote on the issue).
Well, the EFF filed suit on Thursday in Federal Court, challenging the constitutionality of both the legislative and executive branches of our government in the above actions. As the EFF filing puts it,
The immunity law puts the fox in charge of the hen house, letting the Attorney General decide whether or not telecoms like AT&T can be sued for participating in the government’s illegal warrantless surveillance,” said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston. “In our constitutional system, it is the judiciary’s role as a co-equal branch of government to determine the scope of the surveillance and rule on whether it is legal, not the executive’s. The Attorney General should not be allowed to unconstitutionally play judge and jury in these cases, which affect the privacy of millions of Americans.Opposition Brief
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Here, here! I’m thankful to have the EFF fighting on my behalf. You should be, too. You can donate to them here.