House Republicans are now targeting the FBI's spying activities by pushing a new amendment that will prevent the national security organization from surveilling Americans without a warrant.
As of writing, GOP conservatives in Congress are expected to debate whether the legislation should reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA).
The seal of the F.B.I. hangs in the Flag Room at the bureau's headquarters on March 9, 2007, in Washington, DC. F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller was responding to a report by the Justice Department inspector general that concluded the FBI had committed 22 violations.
For those who are not familiar with FISA, it allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation to snoop into the communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant.
Some incidental communications involving Americans can also be spied on by the FBI because of FISA.
House Reps Target FBI's Spying Activities
According to Newsweek's latest report, Section 702—the key provision of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 that allows targeted surveillance of foreigners—has been sparking privacy concerns among Americans.
But, MAGA Republicans started to oppose it in 2016 because of an issue involving the FBI and former U.S. President Donald Trump. During that year, the FBI allegedly spied on Trump's campaign aide using unrelated FISA warrants.
In December 2023, the House decided to pass NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), which included a four-month extension of FISA. This legislation was passed; 147 Republicans and 163 Democrats agreed to reauthorize it while 45 Democrats and 73 Republicans opposed its reauthorization.
The U.S. Congress is expected to schedule a meeting to consider a new reauthorization of FISA before February ends. Numerous GOP conservatives suggested that the amendment should require a warrant for the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies before they can spy on or investigate Americans.
FBI Explains How FISA Helps Prevent Terror Plots
FBI agents collect evidence at a FedEx Office facility following an explosion at a nearby sorting center on March 20, 2018, in Sunset Valley, Texas. A package, reported to have been shipped from this store, exploded while being transported on a conveyor shortly after midnight.
Politico reported that the FBI admitted that it used a controversial foreign surveillance tool to prevent terrorist plots in the U.S. in 2023.
This last-minute disclosure was made by the national security organization in hopes of persuading Congress not to reauthorize FISA.
The FBI explained that FISA allowed it to ensure the national security of the nation since they were able to access data under the digital surveilling authority.
The security intelligence agency said that FISA allowed it to thwart a potentially imminent terrorist attack against a critical U.S. infrastructure in 2023.
Right now, the fate of FISA is still unclear. But, the U.S. Congress needs to decide soon since it is set to expire in April.
Related Article: FBI Letter Warns US Gov. About Consequences of Not Closing US-Mexico Border; Elon Musk Says It's Concerning
