Elizabeth Goitein

A key U.S. surveillance provision, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, is set to lapse as Congress failed to renew it before a recess. The law allows intelligence agencies to collect electronic communications of foreigners outside the U.S., with companies still legally required to comply even after expiration, though some lawmakers and experts warn of potential risks.

Congress is reauthorizing the 2024 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA), which renews Section 702 of FISA, allowing warrantless surveillance of foreign targets and enabling U.S. officials to search communications linked to Americans overseas. Critics argue the law’s benefits are unclear and raise privacy concerns, while supporters claim it includes significant reforms to address past abuses. The law’s extension remains contentious, with debates over its effectiveness and potential for expanded surveillance.