WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Legislation proposed by the US House of Representatives would give the US government improper authority to spy on private citizens, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a press release.
"As written, the bill still allows the government to read emails, text messages, and other communications of Americans without a probable cause warrant or even a shred of evidence suggesting that the person has information necessary to protect against an imminent threat," ACLU legislative counsel Neema Singh Guliani said in the release on Friday.
The measure does not address concerns that it includes a loophole that could be used to "improperly" spy on journalists, government critics, activists and other private citizens, the release said.
The measure dubbed USA Liberty Act, would extend the government’s surveillance powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire at the end of the year, the release said.
