FISA surveillance law goes back into effect

U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday signed a law renewing the controversial Section 702 provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two more years. The White House praised the Senate and the House of Representatives for passing the bill. The House passed the bill despite significant opposition from the chamber’s Republican majority.

What does Section 702 do? The key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the government to conduct warrantless surveillance outside the United States on people who are not U.S. citizens, according to the National Security Agency. The White House has insisted that the law renewing the section include provisions to protect U.S. citizens from warrantless surveillance.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report about the FISA renewal passing the House last week despite GOP divisions on the legislation.