NSA Roundup: Rep. Holt Proposes Repeal Act, NSA Surveillance Methods, and the Assembly of a Surveillance Review Panel on the Hill.

In the spirit of former Cybersecurity Law and Policy Blog writer, Zach, today I’m posting a “cyber roundup” with a focus on NSA surveillance:

In response to news that the NSA has circumvented the encryption protecting sensitive private data from prying eyes, Representative Rush D. Holt has proposed the Surveillance State Repeal Act, which would repeal the 2011 Patriot Act and the 2008 FISA amendments and extend whistleblower protections to cover intelligence agency employees. Effectively, the proposed legislation would remove the government’s cited legal basis for its phone records surveillance program and for its PRISM program. Here’s an article from The New York Times about Representative Holt’s plan.

Here is a good article from The Guardian about NSA surveillance methods and capabilities, including how the agency uses the network, secret communications channels, network devises, and Tailored Access Operations to monitor and collect intelligence. (It also includes the journalist’s recommendations for staying secure).

The Hill reports that President Obama has assembled a surveillance review panel to meet with privacy advocates and officials from technology companies on Monday. According to this report the panel will review the controversial surveillance programs of the NSA and make recommended changes.