The U.S. Government’s Most Powerful Spying Tool Is Fighting for Its Life
Live MintWASHINGTON—The Biden administration’s efforts to renew legislation that allows the U.S. to track the electronic communications of terrorists, spies and hackers overseas is facing an uphill battle amid increasing opposition from some members of both political parties and a looming end-of-year deadline. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is among the most powerful tools wielded by U.S. spy agencies. In a letter sent to Congress on Monday, senior law-enforcement and intelligence officials said Section 702 “is vital for insights into foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas." Bipartisan legislation introduced last month in the Senate and House by a range of privacy advocates led by Wyden would renew Section 702 for four years but enact sharp new guardrails, such as requiring U.S. agencies, including the FBI, to obtain judicial approval before conducting content searches related to Americans. In Senate testimony this week, he described Section 702 as indispensable to combating foreign threats to the U.S. “Stripping the FBI of its 702 authorities," he said, “would be a form of unilateral disarmament."
History of this topic
Congress Again Fails to Limit Scope of Spy Powers in New Defense Bill
WiredBiden signs bill extending a key US surveillance program after divisions nearly forced it to lapse
Associated Press
Biden signs bill extending key U.S. surveillance program after divisions nearly forced it to lapse
LA TimesSenate advances renewal of key US surveillance program as detractors seek changes
Associated Press
What is FISA? US House passes controversial surveillance bill despite Donald Trump's plea to 'kill it'
Hindustan Times
House passes reauthorization of U.S. surveillance program after days of upheaval over changes
LA TimesConservative revolt in the House blocks effort to reauthorize a key US spy tool
Associated PressHouse to take up bill to reauthorize crucial US spy program as expiration date looms
Associated Press
FBI chief calls for renewal of spy program to ensure public safety
Hindustan TimesFBI chief makes fresh pitch for spy program renewal and says it’d be ‘devastating’ if it lapsed
Associated PressA key US spy tool will lapse at year’s end unless Congress and the White House can cut a deal
Associated Press
U.S. Spying Law Threatens Privacy, Needs Restrictions, Watchdog Says
Live MintA key US government surveillance tool should face new limits, a divided privacy oversight board says
Associated PressThe FBI should face new limits on its use of US foreign spy data, a key intelligence board says
Associated Press
US Spies Are Lobbying Congress to Save a Phone Surveillance ‘Loophole’
WiredSurveillance has caught hackers and fentanyl smugglers, White House says in promoting spying law
Associated Press
Democrats and Republicans are skeptical of US spying practices, an AP-NORC poll finds
Associated Press
Congress’ anger at FBI shapes surveillance program’s future
Associated Press
Lawmaker says FBI wrongly sought surveillance info about him
Associated Press
US officials make case for renewal of surveillance powers
The Independent
NSA director pushes Congress to renew surveillance powers
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