FISA, a Key U.S. Spying Power, Is Expiring. What Does That Mean for Foreign Surveillance?

Article excerpt

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires Saturday, potentially crippling a tool the U.S. uses to monitor foreign suspects without warrants. Intelligence officials warn the lapse will create dangerous gaps in counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations. Some lawmakers agree, though surveillance can technically continue under other legal authorities. The expiration hinges on a fierce debate between those who view 702 as essential national security infrastructure and civil liberties advocates concerned about warrantless monitoring of Americans caught in the dragnet.