2LT International News

WASHINGTON, D.C.: On April 19, the U.S. Senate approved reauthorizing a surveillance program, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which supporters call a crucial element of U.S. foreign intelligence gathering.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Democrats and Republicans came together and did the right thing for our country safety.”

“We all know one thingletting FISA expire would be dangerous. It is an important part of our national security, to stop acts of terror, drug trafficking and violent extreme extremism,” he added.

FISA was one of the U.S.’s most vital intelligence collection tools, and Biden would sign it quickly, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

FISA was originally passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks to enable U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor foreigners abroad, including enemy spies, rogue hackers, and extremist militants, using data gathered from digital infrastructure, such as internet service providers.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized FISA, arguing that it violates the constitutional right to privacy in the U.S.

The bill was blocked three times in the past five months by House Republicans rebelling their party. A 273-147 vote finally passed it last week after its duration was shortened to two years from five years.

The White House, intelligence chiefs, and senior lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee said not reauthorizing the program could have potentially catastrophic effects.

Although the right to privacy is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the program’s data on foreign nationals often includes communications with Americans and can be used by domestic law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, without a warrant.