President Joe Biden approved the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) after several divisions nearly lapsed over the FBI's possible restriction on Americans' data.
The president's signed legislation has formally reauthorized this significant U.S. surveillance law and extended the program for two years.'
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Biden Administration Approves Surveillance Law
The Senate approved the bill with a 60-34 vote supporting the program's extension under Section 702 of FISA. The surveillance tool was first introduced and authorized in 2008 to help mitigate terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, and foreign espionage.
FISA was reauthorized 15 minutes before its expiration at midnight as announced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The surveillance law has proven reliable after producing intelligence operations like the 2022 killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
"You may miss a plot to harm the country here, domestically, or somewhere else. So in this particular case, there's real-life implications," said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
How the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Works
The renewed FISA program will allow the U.S. government to gather data for foreign intelligence without any warrant from the communications of non-Americans outside the country. Before it was reauthorized, the proposal met privacy and national security concerns for months.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the significance of FISA to the Justice Department. He stated it would help "codify important reforms the Justice Department has adopted to ensure the protection of Americans' privacy and civil liberties."
On the contrary, progressive and conservative lawmakers are still pressing for changes and refused to accept the version of the bill that was sent by the House last week.
"If the government wants to spy on my private communications or the private communications of any American, they should be required to get approval from a judge, just as our Founding Fathers intended in writing the Constitution," said Sen. Dick Durbin, arguing against accessing American communication without a warrant.
