Consumer Advocates Urge ‘Reform’ for FISA Surveillance Authority

Congress shouldn’t reauthorize Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 “without substantial reforms” to surveillance authorities, consumer advocates told the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday. The committee plans an oversight hearing Tuesday with officials from DOJ, FBI, CIA, National Security Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Section 702 is to expire in December. Groups signing the statement Monday included the Center for Democracy & Technology, American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Prosperity, Demand Progress, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Fight for the Future and TechFreedom. DOJ and the ODNI released declassified documents in May detailing the latest evidence of unauthorized surveillance of Americans related to FISA authority (see 2305190067).