House Approves Three-Year Section 702 Renewal; Senate Vote Uncertain
Summary
The House voted 235-191 to renew FISA Section 702 for three years, adding oversight provisions and a Federal Reserve digital-currency ban. The bill now goes to a Senate where its passage is uncertain; privacy advocates say reforms are inadequate.
Key points
- The House approved a three-year Section 702 renewal by a 235-191 vote, one day before the authority was due to expire.
- Section 702 permits U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreigners.
- The bill adds Fourth Amendment safeguards and tougher penalties for privacy violations, according to the article.
- A permanent ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a digital currency was attached to win conservative support.
- Senate leaders have indicated they may not support the House bill; senators could pursue their own version.
- A privacy advocate criticized the bill, saying it lacks a warrant requirement for querying Americans’ messages and meaningful reforms to prevent past or future abuses.
Article Details
- Event Type
- The U.S. House approved a three-year renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, sending the measure to the Senate.
- Impact
- The renewal would extend warrantless surveillance authority over foreigners. The bill includes additional oversight measures and tougher penalties for privacy violations, but Jake Laperruque said it provides no warrant requirement for querying Americans’ messages and would not prevent past or future abuses.
People
Jake LaperruqueDeputy director of the Center for Democracy and Technology’s Security and Surveillance Project who criticized the bill’s privacy safeguards and said it would not prevent abuses of FISA 702.Rick CrawfordHouse Intelligence Committee Chair who supported the bill, describing it as strengthening oversight and accountability while maintaining the national security tool.