The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board planned...

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board planned to have released its report on the government’s Internet bulk data collection program at 9 p.m. Tuesday, said PCLOB in a news release earlier that day. The five-member board will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday in a public session to vote on the report on the surveillance programs authorized under Patriot Act Section 702, PCLOB said. The report is expected to “focus on increasing transparency to the public regarding the surveillance program,” PCLOB said. “It will address the Section 702 program’s development and operation, statutory basis, constitutional implications, and whether it strikes the right balance between national security and privacy and civil liberties, and will make recommendations for policy reforms.” The group had issued a report suggesting the government curb its bulk phone surveillance program authorized under Section 215 (http://bit.ly/1bkU5c7). Some members of the board argued for the value of the Section 215 program, in the report (CD Jan 24 p5). Since then, PCLOB has turned its attention to the Section 702 programs, holding a public meeting with civil rights advocates, international representatives and government officials (CD March 20 p4).