The following statement can be attributed to Sean Vitka, senior policy counsel at Demand Progress:
"Despite years of Congressional and public outcry against warrantless mass surveillance of people in the United States, the CIA has been hiding bulk spying programs, infringing on the rights of literally every American, and completely evading the the oversight of Congress and the courts. As disturbing as the CIA's bulk surveillance of financial transactions is, the other bulk surveillance program is so secretive the CIA won't even tell the public what kind of information it is sweeping up.
"The CIA must come clean about what it is using Executive Order 12333 for, and it should consider that two years ago, Section 215 of the Patriot Act sunset, permanently, because the government abused its powers and betrayed the public's trust."
"The CIA must come clean about what it is using Executive Order 12333 for, and it should consider that two years ago, Section 215 of the Patriot Act sunset, permanently, because the government abused its powers and betrayed the public's trust."
The released documents relate to two "Deep Dive" reports by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). The first relates to a bulk financial surveillance program, while the CIA claims "Deep Dive II" "must remain classified in full to protect sensitive tradecraft methods and operational sources." The documents, in particular the letter from Sens. Wyden and Heinrich, emphasize that the CIA's bulk surveillance occurs “entirely outside the statutory framework that Congress and the public believe govern this collection, and without any of the judicial, congressional or even executive branch oversight that comes from [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] collection.”
Sens. Wyden and Heinrich are also two of the original cosponsors of the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, which would rein in the government's lawless checkbook surveillance of Americans. When government agencies purchase information, they do so without Congressional or judicial oversight. That bill has the support of dozens of organizations, including Demand Progress. It is unknown at this time if the CIA is fueling this bulk surveillance by purchasing information.
Documents:
The Wyden-Heinrich letter declassified today: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HainesBurns_WydenHeinrich_13APR21%20-FINAL.pdf
The Wyden-Heinrich press release: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-heinrich-newly-declassified-documents-reveal-previously-secret-cia-bulk-collection-problems-with-cia-handling-of-americans-information
The CIA's press release (which explains that Deep Dive II couldn't be released at all, only the PCLOB recommendations): https://www.cia.gov/static/b535156788e6443d89d0eaf6b004796e/OPCL-CIA-Public-Release-Statement-Deep-Dives.pdf
The CIA's Q&A: https://www.cia.gov/static/8c2c9109f7b0c4fadc2681cfedfecccc/OPCL-Potential-QAs-for-Deep-Dives.pdf
The PCLOB staff-recommendations released separately from Deep Dive II: https://www.cia.gov/static/f61ca00cbcda9b5d46a04e0b53b5f2b9/OPCL-Recommendations-from-PCLOB-Staff.pdf
The PCLOB's Redacted Deep Dive I on the financial surveillance program: https://www.cia.gov/static/63f697addbbd30a4d64432ff28bbc6d6/OPCL-PCLOB-Report-on-CIA-Activities.pdf
The PCLOB's Redacted Deep Dive I on the financial surveillance program: https://www.cia.gov/static/63f697addbbd30a4d64432ff28bbc6d6/OPCL-PCLOB-Report-on-CIA-Activities.pdf