December 8, 2023 at 05:35PM
Two bills to reauthorize America’s FISA Section 702 spying powers advanced in House committees this week. The House Judiciary Committee approved the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act, including reforms requiring a warrant for US person queries. The House Intelligence Committee passed the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act without a strict warrant requirement. Privacy advocates support the Judiciary Committee’s bill.
From the meeting notes provided, there are two competing bills to reauthorize America’s FISA Section 702 spying powers that advanced in the House of Representatives committees. The first bill is the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act (HR 6570), approved by the House Judiciary Committee, which reauthorizes Section 702 of the FISA for three years with reforms including requiring warrant for conducting a US person query. The second bill is the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023 (HR 6611), passed by the House Intelligence Committee, which also renews Section 702 but without a strict warrant requirement and seeks to limit the FBI’s abuse of the controversial snooping tool.
Privacy advocates favor the House Judiciary Committee’s proposal (HR 6570) over the House Intelligence Committee’s plan (HR 6611). The Center for Democracy and Technology’s director, Greg Nojeim, called HR 6611 a “Trojan Horse” and warned that it would actually expand surveillance powers. On the other hand, the ACLU supports the Judiciary Committee’s proposal, emphasizing the importance of protecting Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizures. Additionally, the Government Surveillance Reform Act introduced in both the House and the Senate, which includes a warrant requirement for US persons queries, is still awaiting committee votes in both chambers.