New York judge rules NSA mass surveillance of phones is LEGAL saying it could have prevented 9/11 attacks

U.S. District Judge William Pauley called NSA's program a 'counter-punch to al-Qaida Pauly wrote in his decision that there was no evidence government had used metadata for any purpose other than to disrupt terrorist attacks Another federal judge called the phone surveillance 'almost Orwellian' and likely unconstitutional The Department of Justice spokesman said the agency was pleased with Pauley's decision
By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 17:41, 27 December 2013 | UPDATED: 18:33, 27 December 2013

A federal judge today found that the National Security Agency's wholesale collection of millions of Americans' phone records is legal and a valuable part of the nation's arsenal to combat terrorism. U.S. District Judge William Pauley said in a written opinion that the program represents the government's counter-punch to eliminate al-Qaida's terror network by connecting fragmented and fleeting communications. In ruling, the judge noted the September 11 attacks and how the phone data-collection system could have helped investigators connect the dots before the attacks occurred.

Justified: .S. District Judge William Pauley found that the NSA's bulk collection of m illions of Am ericans' phone records is legal and a valuable part of the nation's arsenal to com bat terrorism

Massive haul: The NSA-run program s pick up m illions of telephone and Internet records that are routed through Am erican netw orks each day

The government learned from its mistake and adapted to confront a new enemy: a terror network capable of orchestrating attacks across the world. It launched a number of counter-measures, including a bulk telephony metadata collection program - a wide net that could find and isolate gossamer contacts among suspected terrorists in an ocean of seemingly disconnected data, he said. Pauley's decision contrasts with a ruling earlier this month by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon, who granted a preliminary injunction against the collecting of phone records of two men who had challenged the program. The Washington jurist said the 'almost Orwellian' program likely violates the U.S. Constitution's ban on unreasonable search. Pauley dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU did not immediately respond to a message for comment.

Different opinion: U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon granted a prelim inary injunction earlier this m onth against the collecting of phone records of tw o m en

We are pleased with the decision, Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said. In arguments before Pauley last month, an ACLU lawyer had argued that the government's interpretation of its authority under the Patriot Act was so broad that it could justify the mass collection of financial, health and even library records of innocent Americans without their knowledge. A government lawyer had countered that counterterrorism investigators wouldn't find most personal information useful.

Pauley dism issed a law suit brought by the Am erican Civil Liberties Union in response to revelations about secret program m ade by NSA analyst Edw ard Snow den (pictured)

The ACLU sued earlier this year after former NSA analyst Edward Snowden leaked details of the secret programs that critics say violate privacy rights. The NSA-run programs pick up millions of telephone and Internet records that are routed through American networks each day. In a 54-page decision, Pauley said the program 'vacuums up information about virtually every telephone call to, from, or within the United States.' ut he said the program's constitutionality 'is ultimately a question of reasonableness,' and that there was no evidence that the government had used "bulk telephony metadata" for any reason other than to investigate and disrupt terrorist attacks. 'Technology allowed al Qaeda to operate decentralized and plot international terrorist attacks remotely,' Pauley wrote. 'The bulk telephony metadata collection program represents the government's counterpunch.' President Barack Obama has defended the surveillance program, but indicated a willingness to consider constraints. The ACLU had no immediate comment. The White House was not immediately available for comment. A U.S. Department of Justice spokesman said the department is pleased with the decision. ep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterintelligence & Terrorism, in a statement said Pauley's decision 'preserves a vital weapon for the United States in our war against international terrorism.'

Comments (145)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all the voice of sanity, solihull, United Kingdom, 5 minutes ago Your move snowden, dont you feel silly now at what you have lost.

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Click to rate Brian, chicago, United States, 21 minutes ago if they want to listen to me order dinner every night, so be it

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Click to rate Heliflyer, Greensboro NC, 31 minutes ago Bribed. - Yebin, Singapore, 12/28/13 1:48 Yep. Gets to keep his job.

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Click to rate Oddjob, Manchester, United States, 46 minutes ago "In ruling, the judge noted the September 11 attacks and how the phone data-collection system could have helped investigators connect the dots before the attacks occurred." That judge should be fired. If the system did or did not work is not relevant, only if it is legal is relevant. A nationwide curfew at 8pm would also reduce crime, so that would be legal too?

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RandyJ, Dewitt Michigan, United States, 1 hour ago To all of you who believe the NSA spying and collection of personal communications is a good thing-you are surrendering inherent, natural rights based upon the words of government officials? The same government who has lied about health care, Benghazi & the IRS abusing it's power-just to name a few things? "A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of the truth." Albert Einstein.

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Click to rate Terry Taylor, London, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago If we had a Republican administration then mass surveillance would stop. The patriot act would never have been law. Bush and Cheney would never have supported this.............Oh, wait. lol

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Click to rate mort dog, Auckland, New Zealand, 1 hour ago I totally agree with this Judge. Hate to think what atrocities could have occurred if the info from this type of surveillance was stopped. Rather lose a bit of so called "privacy" and get these bastxxxx who want to blow you and your family up

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Click to rate Adelaide, Brisbane, 1 hour ago I'm sure people won't mind mass spying and surveillance if a judge says it's ok.

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yougottobekidding, Somewhere, United States, 1 hour ago Could have prevented 911, really, and the Russians warned us about the Tsarnaev brothers and our security agencies choose to ignore the warnings. This Judge lives in another dimension.

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Click to rate Robert, Auckland, New Zealand, 1 hour ago At last, someone who is a realist & NOT a dreamer/idealist. Good on you judge.

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