Analysis
-- NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s revelations have forced President Barack
Obama’s hand, leading the president to announce new reforms of the
government’s classified surveillance programs.
After his administration issued repeated defenses of a National Security Agency monitoring program that collects Americans’ phone and Internet data, Obama announced during a press conference Friday afternoon that reforms to the system will make the collection activities more transparent and "give the American people additional confidence that there are additional safeguards against abuse."
Obama said the changes will include changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court system -- which currently greenlights requests for data gathering -- as well as the creation of both an internal NSA position devoted to privacy and an external working group to evaluate transparency in the program. Officials will also launch a new website next week that will serve as “a hub for further transparency” for interested members of the public.Given the history of abuse by governments, it’s right to ask questions about surveillance by governments, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspects of our lives," he said.
Obama's announcement comes even as Snowden -- the defense-contractor-turned-fugitive who released information to reporters about the NSA’s monitoring programs -- has been charged with theft of government property and two offenses under U.S. espionage law.
He continues to evade extradition to the United States under a temporary asylum granted by the Russian government – an agreement that prompted Obama to cancel a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in protest.
Snowden has generated strong feelings in the wake of disclosures, with many lawmakers decrying him as treasonous for releasing the information while others have used the case to press their concerns about how the government is watching American citizens.
Obama bluntly rejected the idea Friday that Snowden's actions were patriotic.
"No, I don’t think Mr. Snowden is a patriot," he said, adding that he would have preferred a "lawful, orderly" debate over privacy concerns rather than finger-pointing in the wake of the leaks.
After his administration issued repeated defenses of a National Security Agency monitoring program that collects Americans’ phone and Internet data, Obama announced during a press conference Friday afternoon that reforms to the system will make the collection activities more transparent and "give the American people additional confidence that there are additional safeguards against abuse."
Obama said the changes will include changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court system -- which currently greenlights requests for data gathering -- as well as the creation of both an internal NSA position devoted to privacy and an external working group to evaluate transparency in the program. Officials will also launch a new website next week that will serve as “a hub for further transparency” for interested members of the public.Given the history of abuse by governments, it’s right to ask questions about surveillance by governments, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspects of our lives," he said.
Obama's announcement comes even as Snowden -- the defense-contractor-turned-fugitive who released information to reporters about the NSA’s monitoring programs -- has been charged with theft of government property and two offenses under U.S. espionage law.
He continues to evade extradition to the United States under a temporary asylum granted by the Russian government – an agreement that prompted Obama to cancel a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in protest.
Snowden has generated strong feelings in the wake of disclosures, with many lawmakers decrying him as treasonous for releasing the information while others have used the case to press their concerns about how the government is watching American citizens.
Obama bluntly rejected the idea Friday that Snowden's actions were patriotic.
"No, I don’t think Mr. Snowden is a patriot," he said, adding that he would have preferred a "lawful, orderly" debate over privacy concerns rather than finger-pointing in the wake of the leaks.
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