The Telecommunication Immunity Bill of 2008, officially known as the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, granted retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies that assisted the government in warrantless wiretapping programs. This bill essentially legalized the president’s previously unlawful surveillance activities. The Senate passed this bill with a vote of 69 to 28, and it was expected to be signed into law by President Bush[1][2][3].
The bill faced criticism for violating the Fourth Amendment, weakening judicial oversight, and infringing on privacy rights. The ACLU strongly opposed this legislation, citing concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and privacy protections. The ACLU announced plans to challenge the law in court, emphasizing that it allowed warrantless and dragnet surveillance of Americans’ international communications[1].
Despite opposition, the bill ultimately granted immunity to telecommunication companies involved in government surveillance activities and dismissed numerous lawsuits against these companies. This move was seen as a significant expansion of government surveillance powers and a blow to privacy rights[4][5].
Citations
[1] https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/senate-passes-unconstitutional-spying-bill-and-grants-sweeping-immunity-phone
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/12/fisa.senate/
[3] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-telecomms-immunity-idUSN1223400220080213/
[4] https://www.npr.org/2008/07/09/92383286/senate-oks-fisa-bill-immunity-for-telecom-firms
[5] https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2008/02/senate-passes-spy-bill-with-telecom-immunity-006143