Court rules NSA phone-spying program illegal

Robert LeCompte Jul 7, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Court rules NSA phone-spying program illegal</h1>
                <h2><p>The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the NSA's mass phone-spying program, revealed by Edward Snowden in 2013, is illegal, reports Reuters. The American Civil Liberties Union has argued that the program is illegal and violates Americans' Fourth Amendment rights that</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/robert-lecompte-crosscut-com/">Robert LeCompte</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the NSA's mass phone-spying program, revealed by Edward Snowden in 2013, is illegal, reports <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/07/us-usa-security-nsa-idUSKBN0NS1IN20150507?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">Reuters</a>. The American Civil Liberties Union has argued that the program is illegal and violates Americans' Fourth Amendment rights that protect against unwarranted searches and seizures. While the court was careful to avoid the topic of whether or not the program is constitutional, the finding says that it is not covered under the Patriot Act. The court did not issue an order to stop the collection of data. Instead, that decision is apparently falling into the lap of Congress when they decide next month whether to renew the Patriot Act and if they want to alter parts of it.</p>
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The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the NSA's mass phone-spying program, revealed by Edward Snowden in 2013, is illegal, reports Reuters. The American Civil Liberties Union has argued that the program is illegal and violates Americans' Fourth Amendment rights that protect against unwarranted searches and seizures. While the court was careful to avoid the topic of whether or not the program is constitutional, the finding says that it is not covered under the Patriot Act. The court did not issue an order to stop the collection of data. Instead, that decision is apparently falling into the lap of Congress when they decide next month whether to renew the Patriot Act and if they want to alter parts of it.

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By Robert LeCompte

Robert LeCompte is an editorial intern at Crosscut. He studies communications and film at The Evergreen State College where he recently transferred from Maryland. When not working, he can usually be f