Media groups called on President Obama’s intelligence review group to better protect First Amendment rights in the wake of National Security Administration and related court actions.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 36 other news organizations responded to a call for comment from the Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies.
“We urge this Review Group to embrace a more transparent FISA process and help ensure that the FISA court does not interfere with protected newsgathering to the point that innocent and necessary communications with reporters are stifled,” the committee stated, referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
“The government needs to more vigorously protect the flow of information and openness in the judicial process to ensure that its efforts to combat terrorism do not end up swallowing the nation’s commitment to First Amendment values.”
The coalition also called for creation of a legal advocate to represent press and public interests before the court.
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