FISA Court Will Release More Opinions Because of Snowden

cold fjord sends this news from the Washington Post: "Call it the Edward Snowden effect: Citing the former NSA contractor, a federal judge has ordered the government to declassify more reports from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In an opinion from the FISC itself, Judge F. Dennis Saylor on Friday told the White House to declassify all the legal opinions relating to Section 215 of the Patriot Act written after May 2011 that aren't already the subject of FOIA litigation. The court ruled (PDF) that the White House must identify the opinions in question by Oct. 4. 'The unauthorized disclosure of in June 2013 of a Section 215 order, and government statements in response to that disclosure, have engendered considerable public interest and debate about Section 215,' wrote Saylor. 'Publication of FISC opinions relating to this opinion would contribute to an informed debate.' The ruling comes in response to a petition by the American Civil Liberties Union seeking greater government transparency. But because the ACLU already has a similar FOIA case pending in another court, Saylor wrote that the new FISC order can only cover documents that don't relate to that case." Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that Snowden's information leaks started conversations that should have happened a long time ago. Also, the privacy reform panel created by President Obama met for the first time earlier this week. It did not discuss the NSA's surveillance activities. [Two attendees of the Monday meeting said the discussion was dominated by the interests of major technology firms, and the session did not address making any substantive changes to the controversial mass collection of Americans' phone data and foreigners' internet communications, which can include conversations with Americans."

Re:Prosecute, convict, and imprison him first.

[Anonymous Coward]

Finally! Someone who gets it.

Of course, this won't all go well with those that worship Snowden as some idol and not rightfully consider him as a betrayer of one's country. However, I do not recognize any value in destroying the country or ensuring that it cannot protect itself from threats within and without.

Couldn't agree more. I found out that my brother had been raping his own daughter, and I did not recognise any value in destroying the family or ensuring that it cannot protect itself from threats within and without. My cousin wanted to get the cops in, so we threatened her to keep her quiet. The relative (unnamed for obvious reasons) has promised to stop raping his kid, and the family avoids the scandal and serious financial loss that'd come from him being convicted.

You know what's frustrating? The journalists at the post probably broke now laws, but we know they should be arrested for something. Just like my cousin - the whistleblower who risked ruining my entire family for the sake of one girl who's probably not going to be raped much anymore. How will we have an America to hand to our children if we don't allow the government what it needs to protect itself and us? If my niece could stop crying for a minute I know she'd agree.