A controversial computer surveillance project that would comb through the personal records of Americans in the search for suspected terrorists has suffered a severe setback.
The US Senate has voted to cut funding for the programme, known as Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA), despite pressure from the White House to back it. Civil liberties activists have been vocal in their opposition to the plan, arguing it would impose a Big Brother state and intrude into the privacy of Americans. The future of the multi-million dollar programme will be determined in talks on Capitol Hill but experts say the opponents of TIA are likely to win the day.