NSA's Creative Interpretations of Law Subvert Congress and the Rule of Law

CISAC Affiliate and Forbes Contributor Jennifer Granick explains how NSA domestic surveillance activities might continue, even in the face of legal decisions to rein in the agency's activities. 

Even after the District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the bulk collection of phone metadata violated the Fourth Amendment, Deputy Attorney General James Cole signaled that the NSA's behavior change will depend on how the court interprets provisions in the legislation.

Granick argues that Cole's comments reflect the Executive Branch's increasing dismissal of Congressional oversight. This trend threatens more than just individual privacy.