US surveillance is off the tracks, say lawmakers

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Lawmakers on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) blasted United States (US) intelligence agencies for trampling on privacy rights and vowed to impose limits on the government’s authority to scoop up Americans’ phone records.

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, members from both parties berated senior officials over the collection of bulk phone data as beyond the limits of the US Constitution as well as legislation adopted by Congress.