Press Releases

Broad Coalition Launches CeasefireAction.com to Build Pressure on Congress Ahead of Israel’s Planned Attack on Rafah

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Demand Progress, Oxfam America, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Win Without War, Common Defense, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and 23 partner organizations launched CeasefireAction.com, a grassroots action tool to apply urgent pressure on members of Congress to call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire. We see this as particularly timely given Israel … Continued

Press Releases

Statement on the Department of Justice Seeking Year-Long Extension of Government Surveillance Under Section 702

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice is reportedly seeking a year-long extension of government surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), even though the law expires in less than two months. In response to this news, Demand Progress Policy Director Sean Vitka issued the following statement: “The government is trying to sneak through … Continued

Press Releases

Demand Progress, FreedomWorks Join Calls for Rep. Mike Turner to Resign as House Intelligence Chair

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following Rep. Mike Turner’s February 14, 2024, actions related to “a serious national security threat,” Demand Progress and FreedomWorks are joining the growing calls for Rep. Mike Turner to step down as chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). In broadcasting and drawing attention to this information, Rep. Turner, with Ranking Member … Continued

Press Releases

House Leadership Threatens to Betray Overwhelming Public Support for Privacy and Surveillance Reform with Rare Secret Session

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, just before the Super Bowl, Politico reported that for only the fifth time since 1830 the House of Representatives plans to hold a secret session to debate extending extremely controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) spying powers, most notably Section 702. This power has been continuously abused by the CIA, FBI, and NSA for over 15 … Continued

Press Releases

Statement on Senate Judiciary Hearing on Big Tech & Online Harms to Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis” featuring testimony from five of the major social media companies. In response, Demand Progress Corporate Power Director Emily Peterson-Cassin issued the following statement: “We applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee for bringing social media CEOs in to testify on the harms … Continued

Press Releases

Statement on NSA Buying Americans’ Internet Data Without Warrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The New York Times has just revealed that the NSA is buying Americans’ internet records without court orders. The news comes as the House of Representatives debates closing the “data broker loophole,” which government agencies increasingly use to avoid court order requirements, in the context of a roiling fight over warrantless surveillance powers set to expire in … Continued

Press Releases

Statement on the U.S. House Passage of the PRESS Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the U.S. House voted in support of Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Representative Jamie Raskin’s (D-MD) bill H.R. 4250, the PRESS Act. This bipartisan legislation prohibits overreach by government prosecutors seeking to extract confidential information and sources from reporters and their communications providers. In response to the House’s passage of the PRESS Act, Demand Progress … Continued

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Tom Morello, Kimya Dawson, DIIV, Deerhoof, and 100s of Other Artists Issue Net Neutrality Support Letter

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  As reported this morning by Rolling Stone, over 275 musicians, writers, and artists signed an open letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reinstate net neutrality and Title II authority. Included among the letter’s signatories are artists Tom Morello, Kimya Dawson, DIIV, Deerhoof, Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre, Julia Holter, Xenia Rubinos, and Eve 6. The FCC’s final deadline … Continued

Press Releases

US Strikes on Yemen are Reckless and Unconstitutional

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the United States’ strikes on Houthi targets inside of Yemen last night, without Congressional approval, Demand Progress Policy Advisor Cavan Kharrazian issued the following statement: “President Biden’s decision to launch airstrikes in Yemen is not only reckless but contravenes the Constitution and the War Powers Act. At a bare minimum, Biden needs … Continued

Press Releases

House Undermines Americans’ Privacy, Extends Persistently Abused Surveillance Authority Section 702 in NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives just voted to extend a controversial and persistently abused surveillance power, Section 702 of FISA, as part of the NDAA. 118 Representatives opposed the NDAA on this vote, falling short of the 145 necessary to stop its advancement under suspension of House rules. Ahead of the vote, 54 members of … Continued

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Congressional Leaders Threaten to Betray Bipartisan Support by Ramming Controversial FISA Authority through NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional leaders are threatening to betray broad bipartisan support for surveillance reform by ramming through reauthorization of Section 702 in the NDAA. Leadership is advancing an NDAA that includes a clean extension of Section 702 until April 19, but FISA experts fear this is an attempt to punt this crucial discussion until 2025 (more context on this below). … Continued

Press Releases

Joint Statement: House to Vote on PATRIOT Act 2.0 As Soon As TUESDAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Judiciary and House Intelligence Committees are expected to bring competing FISA reauthorization language to the House Floor as soon as tomorrow under rare “Queen-of-the-Hill” process. In the words of top FISA expert and one of five handpicked FISA Court Amici, Marc Zwillinger, the Intelligence Committee’s legislation “greatly expand[s]” the number of businesses and … Continued

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Demand Progress Appalled that Leader Schumer May Sell Out Privacy, Ram Controversial Extension of Warrantless Surveillance Authority

WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to reports from CQ-Roll Call and Wired, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to jam an extension of an extremely controversial warrantless FISA spying authority into the upcoming “must-pass” Continuing Resolution. This authority, “Section 702,” has been continuously abused to undermine civil rights, including through facilitating unlawful spying on activists protesting the murder of George Floyd, … Continued

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Bipartisan Coalition Applauds Government Surveillance Reform Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Sen. Wyden, Sen. Lee, Rep. Davidson, and Rep. Lofgren introduced the Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA), a sweeping package of legislation that would enact comprehensive privacy protections for people in the United States while creating a path forward for reauthorization of the controversial warrantless surveillance authority known as “Section 702.” This authority is set … Continued