The Senate narrowly avoided a lapse in the key U.S. surveillance law by reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act just before midnight, approving it with bipartisan support. The law, vital for counterterrorism efforts, allows the collection of foreign intelligence information from non-Americans outside the U.S. Despite a push from progressive and conservative lawmakers for amendments addressing civil liberty concerns and restricting the FBI’s access to American data, the final bill passed without major changes. U.S. officials argue that quick access to intel is vital for national security, while critics raise privacy and abuse concerns over the surveillance program.
https://apnews.com/article/fisa-donald-trump-surveillance-congress-johnson-81e991c9f82e77b2fe13f8a3e0e25349