Reaction to Obama's NSA speech ranges from lukewarm to skeptical

[cali]

As experts and advocates wade through the details of President Obama’s big speech on the National Security Agency, reviews are decidedly mixed. There’s something for everybody to like – and to dislike, it seems.

Matt Sledge at the left-leaning Huffington Post writes, “For Snowden, whose supporters have always maintained that he is a whistleblower motivated by the Constitution's higher ideals, the speech and the changes it telegraphs will likely come as a major vindication.” Edward Snowden, of course, is the National Security Agency (NSA) contractor/leaker now avoiding US prosecution in Russia.

Among other things, Obama said he would end the NSA’s bulk collection of telephone metadata – numbers called, length of calls, etc. – which has included information on millions of Americans. He also wants to limit the spying on foreign leaders and increase the authority of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Obama may have given Snowden short shrift in his speech, but the young fugitive is the main – perhaps the only – reason Obama outlined his intended reforms Friday

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http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2014/0118/Reaction-to-Obama-s-NSA-speech-ranges-from-lukewarm-to-skeptical

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Snowden turned on the lights. Obama reacted to what was revealed to the people and the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/17/tech/web/response-obama-nsa-speech/

Anthony D. Romero, executive director, American Civil Liberties Union

"The president's speech outlined several developments which we welcome. Increased transparency for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, improved checks and balances at the FISA court through the creation of a panel of advocates, and increased privacy protections for non-U.S. citizens abroad -- the first such assertion by a U.S. president -- are all necessary and welcome reforms.

"However, the president's decision not to end bulk collection and retention of all Americans' data remains highly troubling. The president outlined a process to study the issue further and appears open to alternatives. But the president should end -- not mend -- the government's collection and retention of all law-abiding Americans' data."

[JaneyVee]

2. But the article above states Obama WILL end bulk collection.

I welcome these reforms with open arms. Thankfully we have a president willing to take action on this issue.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Obviously, the ACLU disagrees.