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This week, after a string of raucous debates and rousing voting sprees involving nearly as much action and nail-biting excitement as a low-octane team sport (at least, for those of us who follow CSPAN like it's ESPN and shout rallying cries like 'Go sports!' at actual sports games) the Senate allowed several sections of the Patriot Act to sunset. No cause for alarm though, despite the world-is-burning protestations of certain politicians. The world did not ignite in this 'dark' period, and many of the Patriot Act's powers were restored two days later with the passing of the USA Freedom Act- though the new law arguably reined surveillance powers in a bit.
So what does it all mean? How will the transition play out? And can we believe the title of the new bill? Can we expect the USA Freedom Act to indeed spread Freedom throughout the USA, much like the Patriot Act was the definition of all Actions most Patriotic?
Well... it's a start. A very small start. It's the first lumbering steps of a long marathon. (Check out that sports reference.) Much of the Patriot Act remains intact. The part of the Act familiar to most, however, is the NSA's bulk data collection program. This has ended with the lapsing of the Patriot Act in a sense, but only in the sense that bulk collection responsibility has moved from government to those other stalwart paragons of trust: phone companies. Phone companies who must turn over data to government if so requested.
Thus, a new dawn for mass surveillance has occurred. But a new dawn in the way that Bill Murray was technically greeted by new dawn each morning in Groundhog Day.
Good morning, America.
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