Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Mass Collection Of U.S. Phone Records Violates The Fourth Amendment" At Philly's National Constitution Center, October 7th

As has been widely discussed in recent months, the United States government has for years been collecting its citizens' phone records in secret. These efforts have proven controversial, with some saying they are a necessary way to keep America safe and others arguing they constitute an encroachment on privacy that violates the Fourth Amendment. Does the collection of phone records qualify as a “search” or “seizure"? If so, is it “unreasonable”? Does it require a particularized warrant and probable cause?

On October 7, award-winning debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) will partner for the third time with Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center to host a debate on the motion "Mass Collection of U.S. Phone Records Violates The Fourth Amendment." Four legal authorities with varying experiences and perspectives will debate the constitutionality of the U.S. government’s collection of phone records, one of the great legal questions of the information age.

Arguing for the motion:
• Alex Abdo, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project
Abdo is currently counsel in the ACLU’s lawsuit challenging the NSA’s phone-records program. Abdo has been involved in the litigation of cases concerning the Patriot Act, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and the treatment of detainees in Guantánamo Bay.
• Elizabeth Wydra, Chief Counsel, Constitutional Accountability Center
Wydra frequently participates in Supreme Court litigation and has argued several important cases in the federal courts of appeals. She joined CAC from private practice at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges in San Francisco, where she was an attorney in the firm’s Supreme Court/appellate practice.

Arguing against the motion:
• Stewart Baker, Fmr. Assistant Secretary, Homeland Security & Fmr. General Counsel, NSA
Baker practices law at Steptoe & Johnson, covering homeland security, cybersecurity, data protection, encryption, lawful intercepts, intelligence and law enforcement issues, and foreign investment regulation. He is the author of Skating on Stilts – Why We Aren't Stopping Tomorrow's Terrorism, a book on the security challenges posed by technology.
• John Yoo, Professor of Law, UC Berkeley & Fmr. Justice Department Lawyer
Yoo is the Emanuel Heller professor of law at UC Berkeley and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of Point of Attack: Preventive War, International Law, and Global Welfare (2014), as well as several books addressing presidential power, national security, and the Constitution. He is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, and has served in all three branches of government.

Before the debate, audience members will vote on the motion; afterward, the audience votes again. The team that moves the most voters to its side will be the winning team in the debate. People can also weigh in online here: http://shorefi.re/YMFIhx

The debate will also stream live online, then air soon after as part of the syndicated NPR show "Intelligence Squared U.S." On October 7, online viewers can tune in here (http://shorefi.re/YMFIhx) or via IQ2's new app (http://shorefi.re/VTwKwx)

WHAT: Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates “Mass Collection of U.S. Phone Records Violates The Fourth Amendment”
WHEN: Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 / Reception 5:30-6:30 / Debate 6:30-8:00 PM
WHERE: F.M. Kirby Auditorium at the National Constitution Center / 525 Arch Street / Independence Mall / Philadelphia, PA 19106
TICKETS: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. To purchase, visit http://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Founded in New York City in 2006 by Robert Rosenkranz, IQ2US reaches millions through podcasts, national NPR broadcasts, international webcasts and other digital media. The series has won a 2014 Clarion Award for Radio Regular Feature Program and the 2014 New York Festivals International Radio Bronze Award for Best Public Affairs. The debates have attracted some of the world's top thinkers, including Steven Forbes, Dr. Neal Barnard, Paul Krugman, Karl Rove, Malcolm Gladwell, and Arianna Huffington. With close to 100 debates, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to “think twice” on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008. The executive producer is Dana Wolfe.

About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is the Museum of We the People, America’s Town Hall, and a Headquarters for Civic Education. As the Museum of We the People, the National Constitution Center brings the United States Constitution to life for visitors of all ages and inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American constitutional tradition. The museum features interactive exhibits, engaging theatrical performances, and original documents of freedom. As the only institution established by Congress to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis,” the National Constitution Center serves as a Headquarters for Civic Education—offering cutting-edge learning resources including the premier online Interactive Constitution. As America’s Town Hall, the National Constitution Center hosts timely constitutional conversations uniting distinguished leaders, scholars, authors, and journalists from across the political spectrum. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.

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