Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was enacted by Congress in 2008 as a post-9/11 measure to bulk up U.S. national security. The provision allows intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreigners located outside the United States.
While the law bars the targeting of Americans, it also incidentally collects information on Americans. Warrantless searches of communications collected under Section 702 for information on Americans are also allowed in certain circumstances. This practice has drawn significant civil liberty concerns from politicians from both the left and right.
Several reports in recent years have also revealed substantial violations of the privacy rights of American citizens under the program.
Intelligence officials and some members of Congress, however, argue that the program, in spite of its abuses, is an important tool for national security, and is merely in need of reform.
Source:
The Epoch Times