Schiff: Obama wants NSA to restructure phone call surveillance program
President Obama’s review panel charged with examining the National Security Administration said that the agency will continue collecting metadata on every phone call made in the United States, but new rules and restrictions could alter the current program, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced on Friday.
The reported NSA reforms could recommend ending the bulk collection of American’s telephone call records, which former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked, the New York Times reports.
Instead of collecting vast amounts of domestic phone records, the NSA should query phone company records depending on the situation, said Schiff, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee.
“When Congress returns, I will continue working through the Intelligence Committee and on the floor to end bulk collection, but I hope in the meantime the president takes the advice of his task force and begins the restructure immediately. Many of these changes, like allowing the providers to hold onto their own records, can be accomplished without legislation and I would urge the administration to act now.”
In October, Schiff met with key U.S. leaders at a House Intelligence Commitee hearing to address allegations that the NSA monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
President Obama has since apologized for spying on allies, assuring Merkel she would not be monitored, according to the Times.
-- Nicole Charky, nicole.charky@latimes.com
Follow on Twitter: @Nicosharki.
ALSO:
Burbank man files claim against city on allegations of threats, false arrest
Police will run DUI checkpoint this weekend