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by Cyrus Farivar - July 19 2013, 6:10pm ESTIn its new statement, the DNI also wrote:
Consistent with his prior declassification decision and in light of the significant and continuing public interest in the telephony metadata collection program, the DNI has decided to declassify and disclose publicly that the Government filed an application with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court seeking renewal of the authority to collect telephony metadata in bulk, and that the Court renewed that authority.
More: Snowden Be Damned: Government Renews US Call Record Order
Phone metadata is just one of many categories of sensitive personal and business information that is not Constitutionally protected, according to the feds. They have long been arguing far more broadly about where the 4th Ammendment does not apply.