US lawmakers have curbed an ambitious plan by the Pentagon to implement a surveillance system that would monitor Americans’ electronic mail, and their health, financial and travel records. Senate and Congressional negotiators agreed this week to uphold an amendment to last year’s appropriations bill that would halt implementation of the Pentagon’s Total Information Awareness programme and bring the system under their oversight. The agreement was hailed by groups across the political spectrum as a victory for American civil liberties in the face of an expanding war on terror. Full Story