House Intel taps six members to reach surveillance program deal

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has become a topic of heated debate in the United States. This law permits the National Security Agency (NSA) to spy on the electronic communications of foreign targets outside the country without a warrant. However, it also allows for the incidental collection of information from American citizens who may be communicating with those foreign targets. The law is set to expire on December 31, 2017, and Congress must decide whether to reauthorize it or allow it to sunset.

There are many voices in Congress who are calling for Section 702 to be reformed. Some want to see increased transparency about how the intelligence collected under this law is used and shared with other agencies. They argue that there needs to be more oversight of the NSA’s activities to prevent abuse of power. Others are concerned about the potential abuse of “backdoor” searches that allow the NSA to access the communication data of Americans without a warrant.

There are also concerns about the impact on privacy rights. Critics argue that the incidental collection of data from Americans is unconstitutional and violates their Fourth Amendment rights. They say that the government should be required to obtain a warrant before collecting any information about American citizens.

Proponents of Section 702 argue that it is a vital tool for national security. They say that the law has been responsible for preventing numerous terrorist plots and has helped to keep the country safe. They argue that reauthorizing the law as it is would allow the government to continue to collect intelligence necessary to protect against threats to national security.

In conclusion, the future of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act remains uncertain as there are growing calls for reform. While the law has been a useful tool to prevent terrorist attacks, there are concerns about privacy rights and potential abuse of power by the government. The balance between national security and individual rights will be at the forefront of the upcoming debate. Congress will have to decide whether to reauthorize the law as it is, reform it, or let it expire at the end of the year. It remains to be seen which option Congress will choose, but the decision will have implications for the intelligence community and for the privacy of American citizens.



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