Connie Mack Hits Obama for Undermining Privacy

Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack took aim at President Barack Obama on Thursday over a proposal for the Justice Department to have more authority to wiretap -- including mobile communication devices.

Any discussion of the administration or Congress toughening federal wiretapping laws should raise serious alarms, said Mack. Aside from the fact that these potential proposals would have strong ramifications on industry innovation and costs, forcing telecommunications companies to comply with stringent regulations could create holes in the system that leave the door open for hackers.

But more importantly, the potential for abuses against the privacy rights of all Americans under new wiretapping laws is enormous, added Mack. While it is Congress duty to ensure that our law-enforcement officials have the tools they need to combat terrorism and protect national security, it is also our responsibility to provide a check on potential abuses of power and preserve individual freedoms.

The Obama administration is walking a fine line on privacy rights with this issue, and I urge them to remember the Constitution and heed caution when developing new wiretapping regulations, said Mack in conclusion.