To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and for other purposes
This bill extends the authorities of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until July 2, 2026.Title VII of FISA generally addresses electronic surveillance and other methods of acquiring foreign intelligence information that are directed at targets outside the United States. Title VII includes surveillance under Section 702, which concerns acquiring communications of non-U.S. persons believed to be outside the United States to obtain foreign intelligence information. Information about U.S. persons may incidentally be acquired by this type of surveillance and subsequently queried (searched) under certain circumstances.For additional information, seeCRS In Focus, IF11451 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA); andCRS Report, R48592 FISA Section 702 and the 2024 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act.
This bill's title gives a fair impression of what it does. This bill extends the authorities of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until July 2, 2026, addressing electronic surveillance and foreign intelligence information.
Watch Items
•The title may create a perception of 'making changes' or 'amending', but it really just extends the current authorities.
•It doesn't mention the potential for incidental collection of U.S. persons' information, a significant aspect of Section 702 surveillance.
•The scope and purpose of foreign intelligence gathering might be understood differently by readers with varying levels of knowledge about FISA and surveillance.