A presidential advisory panel is recommending stripping the National Security Agency of its ability to store Americans' telephone records and requiring a court to sign off on individual searches of phone and Internet data.
The panel does not recommend that the NSA stop seizing phone and Internet data entirely. It was not immediately clear whether the proposed changes would limit the scope of the collections.
President Barack Obama ordered the review board to submit recommendations following disclosures earlier this year about the vast nature of the government's surveillance programs. He is not obligated to accept their proposals.
The White House authorised release of the advisory group's report yesterday, weeks ahead of schedule.