Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A secret court must grant permission for the NSA to tap into its vast database of telephone data under a new requirement expected to be announced by President Obama today, the New York Times reports.
The move comes after Obama’s administration came under intense criticism for how easily the NSA could access a trove of domestic phone information.
“The president will say that he is ordering a transition that will end the Section 215 telephone metadata program as it currently exists and move to a program that preserves the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk metadata,” said the official, who insisted on anonymity to preview a part of the 11 a.m. speech in advance.
“The president believes that the 215 program addresses important capabilities that allow us to counter terrorism but that we can and should be able to preserve those capabilities while addressing the privacy and civil liberties concerns that are raised by the government holding this metadata,” the official added.
Obama also is expected to announce to an audience of the Justice Department that the administration will provide more safeguards for foreigners, such as heads of state, the Times wrote.
