US Congress temporarily extends controversial surveillance power under FISA

The measure has long been criticised for allowing US intelligence agencies to collect citizen data without a warrant.The United States Congress has temporarily extended a controversial surveillance law which allows federal intelligence agencies to collect the data of foreigners, including their contacts with US citizens.The move allows a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to continue until April 30. The short-term extension was passed by the House of Representatives and approved by the Senate on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Former FBI chief Robert Mueller, known for Trump investigation, dead at 81list 2 of 3US lawmakers push for pause in data centres until AI safeguards in placelist 3 of 3‘My phone is a brick’: Russians scramble for information as data blockedend of listThe patch comes after President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a more lasting extension broke down.Section 702 of FISA allows the National Security Agency (NSA) and other intelligence services to collect data from foreigners outside of the country.That could include their interactions with US citizens, a prospect that has alarmed rights advocates.Collecting such data, which can include correspondence on email and telecommunications platforms, typically requires a warrant approved by a court.The process has been described by critics as a “backdoor search” that circumvents existing privacy laws.Speaking after Friday’s vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there was still some openness to reforming the law.“We’ve got to pivot and figure out what can pass, and we’re in the process ⁠of figuring out how to do that here,” he told reporters.Supporters of reform, who stretch across party lines, have long sought to repeal or amend Section 702.While FISA was initially passed in 1978, Section 702 was added as an amendment in 2008.The addition came amid the US’s “global war on terror”. But during its approval, revelations emerged that the administration of former US President George W Bush had already used the tactics Section 702 legalised.Supporters, including Trump, maintain that reforming the provision would lead to a lapse in national security.