FISA reference guide
Trending news. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will lapse on April 20 without Congressional action. Its core controversy centers on Section 702, which allows the U.S. government to collect foreign communications but can also sweep in the communications of U.S. citizens.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is a U.S. federal law that establishes the framework for government agencies to conduct surveillance and collect foreign intelligence, including electronic surveillance and physical searches, under the oversight of a specialized court. Section 702 allows the U.S. government to collect foreign communications but can also sweep in the communications of U.S. citizens.
This means – under the right circumstances – Section 702 allows U.S. agencies to obtain, hold and "query" (search) Americans' communications without court order.
Debates in Congress have intensified because the program has a documented history of misuse.
Additional concern has focused on internal oversight changes, including reports that several positions within the FBI’s Compliance Oversight Team were removed or reassigned during a departmental reorganization.
Further reading:
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): Congressional Research Service An Overview
