WASHINGTON – Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about government invasion of privacy while investigating terrorism, and some ordinary citizens are finding ways to push back. They are signing online petitions and threatening lawsuits. Some are pressing service providers to be upfront when data is shared with the government, which federal law allows so long as the person isn’t being investigated under an active court order.
Watch: Surveillance controversy continues as NSA defends wiretapping procedures
The question is whether these anti-surveillance voters will be successful in creating a broader populist movement. Many lawmakers have defended the NSA surveillance program – a program Congress itself reviewed and approved in secret.
And unlike the anti-war effort that rallied Democrats during President George W. Bush’s administration, and the tea party movement that galvanized conservatives, government surveillance opponents tend to straddle party lines.
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