The US House of Representatives today approved legislation which requires more judicial supervision over electronic surveillance. The bill does not include telecom immunity which had been demanded by President Bush. Bush had hoped the measure would give telecommunications companies retroactive immunity for cooperating with the government in the past on warrantless wiretappings.

Telecommunications companies presently face more than 40 lawsuits which allege they have breached customers’ privacy rights.  

Also key in the legislation is that it now restores the power of the federal courts to approve wiretapping warrants. It also authorizes federal inspectors to investigate the administration’s warrantless surveillance efforts.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/14/AR2008031400803.html?hpid=topnews