US Congress extends controversial surveillance law by 10 days

Congress passed a short extension to a high-profile surveillance law on Friday after failing to secure the long-term reauthorisation pushed by US President Donald Trump.The brief pause comes after a late-night attempt to reauthorise the law for ‌five years failed in the House.It sets up another round of wrangling over whether and how to reform what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the National Security Agency to surveil foreigners using data drawn from US digital infrastructure.The provision has long been a magnet for anxieties over domestic surveillance from both political conservatives and progressives because it can allow the NSA’s law enforcement counterparts to mine the massive data trove without a warrant.The law had ⁠been due to expire on Monday, but the House voted by unanimous consent to extend it through April 30 – effectively kicking the ‌can down the road for 10 days to give more breathing room for negotiations. Senators voted unanimously to pass the House’s short-term fix shortly before 11am on Friday.Senate Republican Leader John Thune walks towards the Senate Chamber of the US Capitol Building on Wednesday. Photo: AFPSenate Republican Leader John Thune said ‌there was some openness to reforms to the surveillance law but he said doing so would depend on details.