President Biden signs law allowing government to surveil citizens without a warrant
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that allows the government to monitor foreign nationals within the United States, expires on April 19, 2024. In place of the FISA, an amendment to the Act (RISAA) that expands the scope of surveillance has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate and been signed by President Biden. RISAA will be valid for two years.
Bill Signed: HR 7888 | The White House
US Senate votes to reauthorize surveillance program, Biden to sign swiftly | Reuters
Senate passes bill renewing key FISA surveillance power moments after it expires
Biden signs bill to reauthorize FISA warrantless surveillance program for two more years
https://www.engadget.com/biden-signs-bill-to-reauthorize-fisa-warrantless-surveillance-program-for-two-more-years-153817277.html
FISA is a law that allows the surveillance of foreign nationals on US soil for signs of terrorism or espionage.
As the law is set to expire on April 19, 2024, a replacement amendment (RISAA) was proposed, but it was strongly opposed because it would expand the government's powers beyond those of FISA and would include Americans as well as foreigners, raising concerns about privacy protections.
However, the bill passed the House of Representatives as is.
Criticism of the law passed by the US House of Representatives to 'hand over all corporate and personal information to the government' has been mounting, with former NSA employee Edward Snowden also pointing out that 'they are trying to take over the Internet' - GIGAZINE
A fierce debate also erupted in the Senate, with people seeking amendments to the bill.
For example, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who voted against the bill, issued a statement saying, 'Congress held out until 11pm to force through RISAA, but I will not give up. The American people know that reform is possible, and that we do not have to sacrifice our freedoms for our security. The widespread support for the amendment (to exempt Americans from surveillance) makes it clear that senators were unwilling to send the bill back to the House, no matter how common sense the amendment before them may be.'
The statement also said, 'Opponents of reform promise that their stopgap legal changes will curb human rights violations, only to discover new ones are being committed by officials with little or no oversight. Those of us who believe that freedom and security are not mutually exclusive have much work to do.'
Wyden Statement on Reauthorization of FISA 702 Without Reforms to Warrantless Surveillance of Americans | US Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-reauthorization-of-fisa-702-without-reforms-to-warrantless-surveillance-of-americans
Despite opposition from Senator Wyden and others, RISAA passed with a vote of 60 in favor and 34 against. Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, 'RISAA is essential to America's intelligence agencies,' and Attorney General Merrick Garland also called it 'essential legislation.'
The RISAA was immediately sent to President Biden for signature.
The RISAA has a two-year term, and it is expected that a similar debate will erupt again around April 2026.
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