U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) joined Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Thursday in calling for the end to the National Security Agency’s (NSA) practice of bulk meta-data collection.
“I know firsthand the power that big data holds – I also know the great risks that arise when this power is abused,” Daines said. “There is a clear and direct threat to Americans’ civil liberties that comes with the mass collection of our personal information and phone records.”
Daines said that in addition to being a threat to the Constitutional rights of all Americans, jeopardizing their civil liberties, the program has been largely ineffective in fishing out any harmful plans of terrorist organizations.
“We must maintain a balance between protecting our nation’s security while also maintaining our civil liberties and Constitutional rights,” Daines, who has long supported the protection of civil liberties and rights under the Fourth Amendment, added. “We must remain vigilant – and we also must ensure that we have robust and transparent debate about these programs and what reforms must be implemented to protect Americans’ civil liberties.”
Daines is known for being a vocal critic of the activities of the NSA and was an original co-sponsor of the USA FREEDOM Act, bipartisan legislation that would halt bulk collection of Americans’ phone records, in a similar fashion.
“In light of all we have learned about the NSA’s unlawful bulk data collection program, it’s clear that reforms must happen,” Daines said. “It’s critical that Americans’ rights are protected against government overreach.”