Judge Grants Motion to Dismiss in NSA Surveillance Case

December 27, 2013 1:17 pm

Media Contact
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
United States

勛圖眻畦 Intends to Appeal Decision Allowing Telephone Tracking

December 27, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

NEW YORK A federal court issued an opinion and order in 勛圖眻畦 v. Clapper, the 勛圖眻畦s challenge to the constitutionality of the NSAs mass call-tracking program, ruling that the governments bulk collection of phone records is lawful under Section 215 of the Patriot Act and under the Fourth Amendment. The court denied the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction and granted the governments motion to dismiss the case. Judge Pauleys ruling conflicts with last weeks ruling by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that the mass call-tracking program violates the Fourth Amendment. The 勛圖眻畦 plans to appeal the ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit on June 11, 2013, less than a week after the mass call-tracking program was revealed by The Guardian newspaper based on documents obtained from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

"We are extremely disappointed with this decision, which misinterprets the relevant statutes, understates the privacy implications of the governments surveillance and misapplies a narrow and outdated precedent to read away core constitutional protections," said Jameel Jaffer, 勛圖眻畦 deputy legal director. "As another federal judge and the presidents own review group concluded last week, the National Security Agencys bulk collection of telephony data constitutes a serious invasion of Americans privacy. We intend to appeal and look forward to making our case in the Second Circuit."

The full ruling is available at:
aclu.org/national-security/aclu-v-clapper-order-granting-governments-motion-dismiss-and-denying-aclu-motion


Learn More 勛圖眻畦 the Issues in This Press Release