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Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is privately urging fellow Democrats to support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a program that allows warrantless surveillance of foreign targets but incidentally collects vast amounts of Americans' communications. In a letter obtained by WIRED, Himes argues that reforms passed in 2024, including 56 measures to limit FBI misuse, are functioning effectively, with a reported compliance rate over 99 percent in recent years. He claims no evidence of abuse under the current Trump administration and FBI Director Kash Patel, emphasizing the program's importance for national security and the risks of expiration. However, critics highlight significant changes that undermine these safeguards: the dissolution of the FBI's Office of Internal Auditing, which previously exposed improper searches; the removal of civil service protections for key personnel; and reliance on self-reporting by the Justice Department to the secret FISA Court and Congress, without independent audits. Experts like Liza Goitein from the Brennan Center note that oversight is reactive and vulnerable, especially given recent reports of unlogged searches and ongoing compliance issues post-reforms. While no lawmakers seek to fully end Section 702 due to its intelligence value, proposals like the Government Surveillance Reform Act offer warrant requirements with emergency exceptions. Himes acknowledges distrust in the administration but maintains he has seen no misuse. The Congressional Progressive Caucus opposes a clean reauthorization, and some sources criticize Democrats for surrendering leverage on this controversial issue.

via The Intercept — Grassroots opposition to renewing Section 702 of FISA is building, thanks in part to fears about AI used to sort Americans’ data. The post Dem Leaders Aren’t Even Bothering to Rally Caucus Against Trump Domestic Spying Powers appeared first on The Intercept .

via The Intercept — They’re crossing party lines to renew Section 702 of FISA. Jamie Raskin asks, “What could go wrong with that?” The post Democrats Might Save Mike Johnson’s Push to Give Trump Domestic Spying Power appeared first on The Intercept .

Without FISA Section 702, national security hangs in the balance as congressional authorization lapses.