US intelligence claims that from 2018 it stopped collecting data on the location of random smartphones. He writes about this in an open letter issued by the office of the director of National Intelligence.
The case concerns a landmark verdict issued a year ago by the US Supreme Court against the authorities, prohibiting the search of electronic location data without a warrant. Senator Ron Wyden then wrote to the then director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, asking how organizations such as the National Security Agency (NSA) relate to a court verdict.
Thursday's letter is the answer. As we read, intelligence agencies have already stopped collecting location data in the US without a court order. Earlier they could do it under the Patriot Act, adopted in 2001 as a result of the WTC attacks.
The interview will fight for its own
However, intelligence officials do not hide that they are not satisfied with the court order. "The Department of Justice and the intelligence community have not come to a legal conclusion on this matter" – declares the office of the director of National Intelligence. However, he declares that he intends to abide by the law, although he will undermine it in the future by way of debate.
In December, the provisions of Section 215 of the Patriot Act expire, which is also one of the most controversial points in this Act. Allows US services to access various data under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. NSA used this recipe to listen to smartphones. The subject of amendment was necessarily taken up.
The interview concludes: "As the past year showed, Americans don't have to choose between freedom and security. Congress should reform Section 215 to make sure we have both.". The society is divided on the issue of interpretation.