Over the past month, news stories based on information leaked by a former government security contractor have raised awareness of some of the ways that the U.S. government has been collecting information on millions of law abiding Americans. There is now a vigorous debate ongoing about these techniques and capabilities, as well as on the broader question of to what extent government actions should be permitted to infringe upon privacy in order to provide security.
In the digital age, concerns about personal privacy, national security, and social media have opened the door for a much needed public debate. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has been at the forefront of this debate, asking hard questions about both the effectiveness and appropriateness of these methods and programs.
To view Sen. Wyden’s remarks as prepared, please click here.