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New US Bill Aims to Protect Researchers Who Disclose Government Back Doors

posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday March 10 2020, @02:34PM   Printer-friendly
from the whistle-stop? dept.

upstart writes in with an IRC submission for SoyCow4275:

New US Bill Aims to Protect Researchers who Disclose Govt Backdoors:

New legislation has been introduced that amends the Espionage Act of 1917 to protect journalists, whistleblowers, and security researchers who discover and disclose classified government information.

The goal of the new legislation is to amend the Espionage Act of 1917 so it cannot be used to target reporters, whistleblowers, and security researchers who discover and publish classified government secrets.

Concerned that the current laws are being used for partisan prosecution, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D - California) introduced the new legislation to Congress on March 5th, 2020 and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D - Oregon) will soon introduce it to the Senate.

"My bill with Senator Wyden will protect journalists from being prosecuted under the Espionage Act and make it easier for members of Congress, as well as federal agencies, to conduct proper oversight over any privacy abuses. Our nation's strength rests on the freedom of the press, transparency, and a functioning system of checks and balances. This bill is a step toward ensuring those same principles apply to intelligence gathering and surveillance operations," said Rep. Ro Khanna.

"This bill ensures only personnel with security clearances can be prosecuted for improperly revealing classified information," Senator Wyden stated.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:11PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:11PM (#969078)

    Or will it protect anyone at all? The Espionage Act of 1917 is wildly out of date with modern society. What may have been scoffed at for being no longer applicable will now be current and enforceable in every legally binding sense.

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  • (Score: 0, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:52PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:52PM (#969110)

    Or will it protect anyone at all?

    Of course not! It's fucking cynical theater! They put this stuff out to feed the hippies, knowing full well it won't pass, nor was it even meant to pass. They wouldn't dare do this if they had control of the senate without enough obstruction from the blue dogs. It's sick that people fall for this crap and reelect these people.

  • (Score: 3, Touché) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday March 10 2020, @06:05PM (1 child)

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Tuesday March 10 2020, @06:05PM (#969189) Journal

    The Espionage Act of 1917 is wildly out of date with modern society.

    Hmm...maybe we should amend it or something!

    • (Score: 1) by pTamok on Wednesday March 11 2020, @08:22AM

      by pTamok (3042) on Wednesday March 11 2020, @08:22AM (#969557)

      The Espionage Act of 1917 is wildly out of date with modern society.

      Hmm...maybe we should amend it or something!

      I agree. Modern society definitely needs amending.