FISA Section 702 debate: Lawmakers clash over surveillance powers ahead of expiration

A critical U.S. surveillance law, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), is set to expire next week, sparking a deadlock among lawmakers over its reauthorization. The law permits intelligence agencies to collect overseas communications without warrants, but also incidentally gathers data on Americans, TechCrunch reports.

Section 702 allows agencies like the NSA and CIA to monitor foreign communications, but this process can sweep up data from U.S. citizens who communicate with targets abroad. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing for reforms, including ending the "backdoor search" loophole that allows warrantless access to Americans' data and prohibiting the government from purchasing commercial data brokers' information on U.S. individuals.

This latter point, concerning the acquisition of data like location history, is a particular focus, with FBI Director Kash Patel confirming the agency buys such data without court orders. The House recently approved a short-term extension until April 30 to allow more negotiation time.

Source: TechCrunch