US Senate approves spy bill, phone immunity
WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - U.S. telephone companies that took part in President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program would receive retroactive immunity from lawsuits under a bill approved on Tuesday by the Democratic-led Senate.
On a largely party-line vote, the Senate sent the measure, which would also tighten controls on electronic surveillance, to the House of Representatives for a certain fight over whether the House will also approve it.
About 40 civil lawsuits have been filed accusing AT&T Inc ((T.N)), Verizon Communications Inc ((VZ.N)) and Sprint Nextel Corp ((S.N)) of violating Americans' privacy rights in helping the government's warrantless domestic spying program started shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. (Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Lori Santos)
