- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

States Move to Curb NSA Spying by Shutting Off Water & Power Supply

© Flickr / EFF PhotosThe environmental group Greenpeace flew an airship over the National Security Agency's UTAH Data Center in Bluffdale to protest the government's mass surveillance program.
The environmental group Greenpeace flew an airship over the National Security Agency's UTAH Data Center in Bluffdale to protest the government's mass surveillance program. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
With Congress unable to curtail the National Security Agency’s controversial surveillance programs, privacy-minded lawmakers in eight states are pushing bills they hope will either boot NSA facilities or ban the agency from setting up shop.

The bills would prohibit state and local governments from offering the agency material support, including water and electricity. Two of the bills would criminalize official cooperation with the NSA, and several seek to squeeze contractors out of work with the electronic spy agency, according to U.S. News & World Report.

© AP Photo / Patrick SemanskThe National Security Agency facility in Fort Meade, Maryland.
The National Security Agency facility in Fort Meade, Maryland. - Sputnik International
The National Security Agency facility in Fort Meade, Maryland.

Utah Republican state Rep. Marc Roberts last year sponsored a bill to close the NSA’s massive Utah Data Center by shutting off water to the facility, which requires millions of gallons monthly to cool its computer systems.

The bill remains active and Roberts is cautiously optimistic about its chances.

He said colleagues he has spoken with “have concerns with the NSA programs and violations of the Fourth Amendment.” But, he added, “when it comes down to a big vote on it like this I'm not sure [what] they will do.”

Legislators in Alaska, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington have introduced similar bills. The legislation generally says states cannot supply material support to federal agencies that collect citizens’ data without warrants.

In Washington, the bill would find any state contractors or officials who work with the NSA to be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year behind bars.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board called out the Obama administration for failing to put an end to the NSA’s telephone records program. - Sputnik International
Privacy Board Calls Out Obama, NSA for Continuing to Collect Phone Records

“We’re saying, 'No, it’s inappropriate.' We have a Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. And if you violate that there’s going to be civil penalties and jail time," he told U.S. News & World Report.

The Oklahoma and Mississippi bills, like the Washington version, would make companies who work with the NSA “forever ineligible” to work with the state and local governments.

Many of the bills are based on model legislation from the OffNow coalition, which calls for state and local governments to deny the NSA resources like water and electricity to thwart the agency.

“We are in a much stronger position [this year] and I’ll be shocked if we don’t see at least one of these measures pass,” said OffNow Executive Director Mike Maharrey.

He said lawmakers now have a better grasp on strategy, and some have tweaked their bills to win broader support.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала