U.S. Surveillance in Place Since 9/11 Is Sharply Limited [telecom]

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A bill to allow the government to restart surveillance operations, but with new restrictions, passed over the opposition of the Senate majority leader, and was signed by President Obama.

WASHINGTON - In a significant scaling back of national security policy formed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Senate on Tuesday approved legislation curtailing the federal government's sweeping surveillance of American phone records, and President Obama signed the measure hours later.

The passage of the bill - achieved over the fierce opposition of the Senate majority leader - will allow the government to restart surveillance operations, but with new restrictions.

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