USA: Increased pressure over domestic warrantless surveillance

Following revelations that National Security Agency (NSA) have carried out domestic surveillance of foreign telephone calls without warrant, US human rights groups have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the program. On 16 February, a federal judge ordered the Justice Department to respond within 20 days to requests by the Electronic Information Privacy Center to release information about the program under the Freedom of Information Act. The Government maintains that the program is legal and necessary to fight terrorism.