Lawmakers have until April 20 to reauthorize a contentious electronic surveillance law, renewing debate over national security needs versus civil liberties and privacy concerns.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the US government to conduct surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes, including by spying on foreign government agents. Title VII of FISA, which deals with electronic surveillance of individuals located outside of the US and was last reauthorized in 2024, is set to expire unless it is extended by Congress.
One of the expiring authorities — Section 702 — remains controversial because it allows intelligence agencies to collect and search through ...