The Supreme Court ruled that the White House may continue making requests to tech companies for data about their customers’ communications, under the USA Freedom Act. The court held that the requests are permissible under the act, which was initially passed by Congress to limit the scope of National Security Agency surveillance programs.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was welcomed by privacy advocates, who argued that the act provided safeguards to protect individuals’ rights to privacy. The court noted that requests were still subject to judicial review, giving individuals a chance to challenge them in court. The decision also maintained limits on what types of requests the White House can make.
The ruling is seen as a win for the government, which has been asserting its right to access communications data since the passage of the USA Freedom Act in 2015. The decision shows that the Supreme Court is willing to grant the White House the authority to continue its data-collection efforts, while still allowing for adequate checks and balances to protect individuals from abuse of that authority.
