The American Civil Liberties Union is launching a nation-wide campaign against government spying in the wake of revelations that since 2002 the National Security Agency has been monitoring Americans’ phone calls both inside and outside the United States. The ACLU wants the Federal Communications Commission to check into whether phone companies like Verizon broke laws by sharing customer records with the NSA, and will file actions with utility commissions in 17 states, including Vermont.
Stephen Dycus of the Vermont Law School is a national security law expert. He spoke with Mitch Wertlieb about the surveillance program and the White House contention that the domestic spying is justified by President Bush’s expanded powers in a time of war.