The Patriot Act expired today and with it the NSA‘s authority to collect Americans’ phone records in bulk.
Members of the Senate deliberated over the Act furiously on Sunday as some wanted to extend its powers and others wanted to kill it altogether. Though the broader Act has lapsed, the Senate will likely revitalize some portions of the law in the days ahead.
A related bill called the USA Freedom Act gained support and the Senate agreed to revisit the proposed legislation this week. The House of Representatives passed the USA Freedom Act on May 13 and it already has the support of the White House.
The USA Freedom Act limits the NSA’s ability to collect phone records in bulk. If or how the Senate amends the USA Freedom Act has yet to be determined
