Judge Finds NSA Wiretapping Program Illegal

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that a federal judge has ruled that the NSA's warrantless surveillance program was illegal, rejecting the Obama administration's effort to keep one of Bush's most disputed counterterrorism policies shrouded in secrecy. Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the government had violated a 1978 federal statute requiring court approval for domestic surveillance when it intercepted phone calls of Al Haramain, a now-defunct Islamic charity in Oregon, and of two lawyers who were representing it in 2004. Declaring that the plaintiffs had been 'subjected to unlawful surveillance,' the judge said that the government was liable to pay them damages."

Comments

I miss OMGPonies :(

[Bananatree3]

This is a very cool outcome to a long and very annoying program. Carte Blanche policies for spying one one's citizens is not just annoying, it ensure whoever's at the top will get corrupter that much faster.

by the way, I miss April Fools, OMGPONIES! Style. That was the best April Fools EVAR
[cries]

Re:Particular Taps, Not Entire Program

[Em Emalb]

Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!