Battle over FISA Section 702 warrantless spying begins

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act today. The provision was passed in 2008 – over the strong objections of privacy and civil liberties advocates. Section 702 expanded warrantless surveillance, but that surveillance was supposed to be aimed at foreign intelligence targets. It has been routinely used to spy on Americans without a warrant. 

The provision will expire in April, 2026 if Congress doesn’t renew it. With our allies, Defending Rights & Dissent has outlined reforms we deem necessary if Congress wants to renew the provision. We sent the following letter to the members of the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, ahead of this morning’s hearing.