Rep. Gaetz Leads GOP Effort to Abolish Broad Surveillance Authority
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is leading a Republican effort in the House to abolish a controversial surveillance authority that is due for reauthorization at the end of the year.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was enacted by Congress in 2008 as a post-9/11 measure to bulk up U.S. national security. The provision allows intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreigners located outside the United States.
While the law bars the targeting of Americans, it also incidentally collects information on Americans. Warrantless searches of communications collected under Section 702 for information on Americans are also allowed in certain circumstances. This practice has drawn significant civil liberty concerns from politicians from both the left and right….