Suzanne Nossel.

Amnesty International – as well as journalists, lawyers and other activists – have been fighting for the right to challenge the seemingly infinite power of the NSA. On Monday, this all came to a head and the Supreme Court heard the arguments of why (and why not) the surveillance program should be challenged and was met with the full force of the Obama administration.

“The idea that we would be denied the ability to challenge the law really is sort of Orwellian, in that the nature of it is secret surveillance without a warrant, meaning no one would ever know if they were being surveilled. So who would be able to prove that they had the standing to sue? It’s a very convoluted, circular reasoning from the government.”

In an attempt to block judicial review, surely the US government is reflecting the same kind of surveillance power it possesses – authoritarian and unwarranted control. But even in a time under Obama's authority, which you would expect to be a better time for civil liberties, citizens have seen Obama-pledged policy dashed.

“It’s disappointing. I think there were grave concerns raised about the Bush administration's over-reach and willingness to trade away civil liberties and human rights in the fight against terror, and I think a lot of hopes invested in the Obama administration that there would be greater respect for both international human rights laws and US constitutional protections," Nossel said. "What we’re seeing in this case is that they really are towing the line and defining a regime of very broad wire tapping – people who aren't even suspected of any kind of wrong-doing, without a warrant and then trying to stand in the way of the legal review of it.”

Back in the UK, the widely criticised Communications Data Bill is currently undergoing the scrutiny of Parliament. The bill would require internet service providers to store details of our internet use and allow authorities to access it. Despite criticism, Home Secretary, Theresa May, is pushing forward and expects it to become law by 2014. Always one to please the people, Teresa. The future of the NSA and Amnesty court case is now just a waiting game.

"The case was heard on Monday and it was a pretty vigorous argument with a lot of questions. It’s dangerous to deduce too much from what happened in those arguments because you really don’t know what people are thinking and how they’ll come out. We’re certainly pleased there was the opportunity to air the issues, so now we wait for a decision on if this challenge can proceed. It’s a bit of a waiting game; we’re at their mercy.”

Follow Sam on Twitter: @sambobclements

Interested in social injustice? Try these:

They Come Down From the Hills and Get Us With Dogs and Guns

I Saw a Man Burning On the Streets of Tel Aviv

Victims of Pain and Blind Justice



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well, the person charged with listening to my phone conversations has the most boring job in the world

I would pity them, but at least they get paid to be bored,,,

I have nothing to hide.

This was on the World News Channel yesterday, many are really concerned about it. Maybe they will catch some real criminals.

well, common sense tells me they cant have the manpower to literally listen to every phone conversation of every american at every moment

Im figuring they have a process by which they suspect SOMETHING Before they reach that point,,, and if they SUSPECT me of something,, they will soon be proven wrong if they listen to my boring conversations,,

soo,, win/win,,,lol

How many people will be needed to track every individual? Some million, no? They can trawl through absolutely anything of mine. Yeah. Good luck with trying to find out anything questionable. I bet they find some of my fiction writing. . They will also find some really stupid stuff I wrote on Buzznet like seven years ago.

I am sad that so many think this is a small or laughing matter.

Wouldn't Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, have loved this technology....

It takes just ONE data-mining super computer, linked to other super computers (like are being built in Utah and elsewhere) like the NSA uses, with keystroke analysis..... the only humans are runners and maint personnel.

they would have pssed all over themselves,however,they did enough damage with the Resources at their Disposal!

I have an Obama phone so I'm good.

direct line,hmm?

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/998399_397193503730767_961598185_n.jpg

Mr.President!
It's Chuck Norris!
I hear you are spying on me!

He never answers.