Wikipedia suing NSA over Internet spying

A collection of civil-liberties and free-speech advocates, including the popular Wikipedia site, announced Tuesday they are suing the National Security Agency over its broad surveillance of U.S. Internet traffic, in part based on information gleaned from NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

The lawsuit a second attempt by some of the plaintiffs comes as both public and Congressional opinion is turning against federal surveillance programs authorized under the Patriot Act.

Were filing suit today on behalf of our readers and editors everywhere, said Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia.

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Surveillance erodes the original promise of the internet: an open space for collaboration and experimentation, and a place free from fear, he said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.

The nine plaintiffs include the Wikimedia Foundation and Amnesty International, and are being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The suit claims that the NSAs surveillance is violating citizens constitutional rights, and asks the court to put an end to the program. The Justice Department is also named as a defendant for crafting the legal authorization for domestic spying.

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Dubbed upstream surveillance, the NSAs use of such programs reduces the likelihood that clients, users, journalists, witnesses, experts, civil society organizations, foreign government officials, victims of human rights abuses and other individuals will share sensitive information, the lawsuit says.

Representatives for the NSA did not respond to reporters request for comment Tuesday. A Justice Department spokesman told The Washington Times that the agency is currently reviewing the complaint.

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Wikipedia suing NSA over Internet spying