Associations sought end to bulk collection of phone data

The U.S. Senate rejected legislation Saturday meant to curtail the National Security Agency's bulk collection of phone records, dealing a blow to tech industry associations that pushed for passage of the bill.

"This morning's vote was a missed opportunity to bring certainty and clarity to our nation's surveillance laws," Information Technology Industry Council CEO Dean Garfield said. "We have said from the beginning that Congressional action is needed to restore trust here at home and globally in our government and the technology sector."

The tech industry believes that revelations of NSA spying have been bad for business. The USA Freedom Act would have limited collection of data by the agency, but the bill failed in the Senate by a 57-42 vote, according to news reports.

Victoria Espinel, CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance, called the vote a "missed opportunity."

"BSA has consistently advocated for legislation that would preserve important elements of our national security regime, while also ending bulk collection and increasing transparency," she said. "We urge Congress to renew its efforts to find a way to properly achieve these much-needed goals."

However, the groups did not see total defeat. The Senate also failed to extension a key provision in the Patriot Act that allows bulk collection of records, meaning the program will officially go on hold starting June 1. http://wrd.cm/1SyLNFt

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