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If the USA Freedom Act fails to pass through the Senate before the end of the year the process will have to restart in January, and will be scrutinised by a new Congress controlled a Republican party more favourable to government surveillance.
B-b-b-but I thought the republican party was about smaller government, not an omniscient, unwieldy large police-state that knows everything about everyone...
Also, if you're hoping for a change in the NSA's powers, don't hold your breath.
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Privacy advocates and technology groups championed the bill originally but many revoked their support after compromises expanded the definition of what data the government can collect.
"Compromises" means taking the teeth out of the bill, which defeats the point in having the bill. It might curtail some aspects of the NSA's abuses, but not the ones that need it the most. In that respect, it will serve to legitimize those NSA powers.
