EFF takes another shot at immunity law
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is making one more attempt to remove a controversial telco law.
The group has filed suit to challenge the constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act. The controversial bill shields US telecommunications firms from lawsuits related to any cooperation with previous NSA surveillance activities.
Immunity had been a contentious point for both backers and detractors of the FISA act. Civil rights groups had long sought to block the passage of bill until the sections providing for immunity. US congress eventually reached a compromise in which immunity could be granted if the NSA confidentially confirms to the judge that the surveillance was legal, authorized by the president, or simply did not happen. The bill was then passed and signed into law by the government, despite continued appeals from some rights groups, such as the EFF.
