Critics Slam 'Watered-Down' Surveillance Bill That Congress Just Passed

A surveillance bill aiming to end the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of Americans' phone records passed the House on Thursday, despite privacy advocates calling it “weak,” “watered-down" and "dangerously broad."

Known as the USA Freedom Act, the bill follows President Barack Obama's January call on Congress to end the NSA's bulk collection of U.S. citizens' phone call information.

The bill, which passed the House 303-121, requires that American phone companies keep records of calls made on their networks for 18 months and let the NSA search their contents for ties to terrorism investigations. Read more...