US Senate to strangle 'Big Brother'

US senators debating defense spending for next year have proposed eliminating all funding for the Pentagon's vast computerised terrorism surveillance program that has raised privacy concerns.

In the past, the US Congress has limited the Defence Department's ability to implement the system - now known as Terrorism Information Awareness - while allowing research to proceed, but the new provision goes further, banning funding outright.

"No funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defence . . . or to any other department, agency or element of the federal government, may be obligated or expended on research and development on the Terrorism Information Awareness program," the provision says.

The program is being developed and tested under the supervision of controversial retired Admiral John Poindexter. Its administration has sent the US Congress an analysis of the proposed defence bill that said the provision would "deny an important potential tool in the war on terrorism".

The overall bill contains $US368.6 billion ($566 billion) for the financial year starting October 1.

[Edited on 16-7-2003 by MiStErBeLLaTrIx]