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Senate OKs Phone, E-Mail Eavesdropping Regulations

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By PAMELA HESS, The Associated Press

Published: February 13, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Senate Tuesday approved new government eavesdropping rules on phone calls and e-mail, giving the White House much of the latitude it wanted and legal immunity to telecommunications companies that helped in snooping after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Protection for the telecom companies is the most prominent feature of the legislation, something President Bush had insisted was essential to getting private sector cooperation in spying on foreign terrorists and other targets. The bill would give retroactive protection to companies that acted without court permission.

The House did not include an immunity provision in a similar bill it passed last year. House Republicans want to adopt the Senate bill, which would avoid contentious negotiations to resolve differences between the measures.

About 40 lawsuits have been filed against telecoms by people alleging violations of wiretapping and privacy laws.

Bush promised to veto any new surveillance bill that did not protect the companies, arguing that it is essential if the private sector is to give the government the help it needs.

Bush called the Senate bill a good piece of legislation that allows the intelligence agencies to monitor communications of foreign terrorists and protect Americans' liberties. He urged the House to pass the bill and send it to him.

The 68-29 Senate vote Tuesday to update the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act belied nearly two months of stops and starts and political wrangling. The two sides battled to balance civil liberties with the need for surveillance on potential adversaries.

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