US Congress takes first step against massive data collecting by NSA

US Congress has moved a step closer to introducing the USA Freedom Act after the House of Representatives approved the bill.

If passed by the Senate the new law will prevent spy agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA) from bulk collecting Americans’ phone data as exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Instead such data will only be able to be collected if there is a reasonable suspicion of a link to terrorism.

However there is opposition to the move. Some Republicans including Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell are in favour of renewing the existing bulk data programme as authorised by the old USA Patriot Act.
It was passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.