Which capability was dissolved by the Freedom Act of 2015? A. The ability of the American Civil Liberties Union to defend the rights of those accused of terrorism
B. The ability of FISA courts to appoint advocates to represent the public’s interest in cases that involve significant legal issues
C. The ability of private companies to disclose the number of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) requests they receive
D. The NSA’s ability for mass data collection based on variables like geographic area or area code
The correct answer is D. The NSA’s ability for mass data collection based on variables like geographic area or area code.
The Freedom Act of 2015 reformed several provisions of the USA Patriot Act and sought to limit the NSA’s ability to conduct mass data collection. Specifically, it ended the bulk collection of telecommunication metadata and required that data obtained be targeted more specifically, thus reducing the extent of mass surveillance practices that were previously allowed.