US, EU Discuss Law Enabling Non-Americans Seek Privacy Judicial Redress

US intelligence community and its European counterparts are working on legislation to provide for non-American individuals the right to come to the US courts and seek judicial redress either to correct inaccurate information or for a willful and proper disclosure.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US intelligence community and its European counterparts are negotiating a legislation that would enable non-Americans seek judicial redress for intentional or willful disclosures of protected information, according to the General Counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

“We are working on legislation right now, we are working on this with members of Congress,” Robert Litt said Wednesday during the discussion at the Brookings Institution, noting that the issue is that the current Privacy Act applies only to US citizens. “We’ve been discussing this [the legislation] with representatives of the EU as well.”

Litt explained that this legislation will provide for non-American individuals the right to come to the US courts and seek judicial redress either to correct inaccurate information or for a willful and proper disclosure.

The Director of National Intelligence stated in a report on Tuesday that the US Administration has strengthened privacy rules, governing mass surveillance programs run by US intelligence agencies.

According to the report, the reforms followed guidance issued by US President Barack Obama last year after former government contractor Edward Snowden leaked documents exposing bulk data collection programs run by the National Security Agency.

The Snowden revelations drew criticism from human rights watchdogs, which said the programs undermine the privacy of US and citizens.

The Director of National Intelligence will implement further reforms and report on its progress in 2016, according to its report.