The Senate voted early Saturday to reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance law known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The legislation, approved with bipartisan support in a 60-34 vote, extends the program for two years. The bill now awaits President Joe Biden's signature to become law.
The surveillance tool, first authorized in 2008 and renewed multiple times since then, is crucial in disrupting terror attacks, cyber intrusions, and foreign espionage. U.S. officials have emphasized its importance in national security efforts, citing instances such as the 2022 killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
The program allows the U.S. government to collect communications of non-Americans outside the country without a warrant to gather foreign intelligence. The reauthorization faced challenges due to clashes between privacy advocates and national security proponents.
Despite the midnight expiration deadline, the Biden administration expected the program to remain operational for at least another year, thanks to a recent opinion from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. However, officials stressed the need for congressional authorization to prevent potential lapses in intelligence collection.
Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the reauthorization, highlighting the importance of the tool in collecting foreign intelligence while safeguarding Americans' privacy and civil liberties.
A group of lawmakers had pushed for amendments to address civil liberty concerns, including restrictions on the FBI's access to Americans' information through the program. However, these amendments failed to garner enough support for inclusion in the final bill.
While some lawmakers advocated for requiring warrants for accessing American communications, others warned that such a measure could hinder responses to national security threats. The Senate ultimately passed the reauthorization bill, emphasizing the balance between security needs and privacy protections.
