Senate risks midnight lapse in FISA spy law over privacy concerns
by Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner— The Senate is flirting with a temporary lapse in a controversial spy law as a bipartisan coalition of senators protest what they say is an unconstitutional expansion of the government’s surveillance powers. The bill, which would extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for another two years, passed the House last week with […]
Daily Mail—Could the U.S. be attacked this weekend? Critical 'spy tool' that stops terrorists will run out at MIDNIGHT as privacy-minded senators demand more safeguards against FBI's 'power grab'. On Thursday, the Senate invoked cloture, allowing debate to begin on the bill, but delay tactics from hardline conservatives prevented quick passage. Former national security officials warned in a letter to the Senate that 'even slight delays in surveillance and analysis could have grave consequences
Washington Examiner—Senate renews FISA spy powers after late-night breakthrough. The Senate reauthorized a controversial FISA spying program on Friday night in the face of days of hardened opposition, casting a flurry of votes in the hours before the law expired. A bipartisan group of privacy hawks had refused to fast-track the legislation, which renews Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but they […]
Fox News—Senate passes FISA surveillance tool renewal minutes after midnight deadline. Roughly 40 minutes after it lapsed, the Senate voted to pass a renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which serves as a critical tool used by the government to gather intelligence on foreign subjects using the compelled assistance of electronic communication service providers. The upper chamber voted 60-34 to pass the re-authorization. The provision lapsed for less than an hour at midnight on Friday, and if the renewal hadn't passed soon after, the...