Thanks in large part to Sen. Rand Paul, at midnight on Sunday, the U.S. Senate let the Patriot Act expire, removing key controversial surveillance authorities from the National Security Agency. So what does that mean, and what's next?
The campaign to rein in the surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency (NSA) has become even more difficult. Congress in its lame duck session has used a set of provisions that expand rather than curtail the agency's data-gathering power.
A federal oversight board endorsed NSA surveillance programs, but suggested that new safeguards be put in place to protect the privacy of American citizens.
The House passed a bill Wednesday that limits the NSA's data collection powers. The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to limit the National Security Agency's bulk collection of phone records.
