Get FISA Right

FISA Section 702’s authority for warrantless surveillance expires at the end of the year unless it’s reauthorized.  With Congress leaving DC on December 15, there’s a lot of action this week — including competing Section 702 surveillance bills on collision path in the House, two bills in the Senate as well, and perhaps an attempt to add as short-term extension to the most-path NDAA bill. So now’s a critical time to contact Congress!

Both bills are scheduled for a floor vote this week, so now’s a crucial time to contact Congress! Several organizations have pages that make it easy to contact your legislators, along with talking points

• Defending Rights and Dissent’s Urgent Action: Congress at crossroads on surveillance alsls legislators to vote YES on the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA, HR 6570), which introduces significant reforms including requiring a warrant, and NO on HR 6611, the “FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act” (FRRA) , which would expand government spying by broadening the scope of FISA — a bill that civil liberties orgnizations EPIC, CDT, and Brennan Center describe as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
• EFF’s action Tell Congress: They Must Defeat HPSCI’s Horrific Surveillance Bill focuses on stopping FRRA
• Freedom Works’ Take a Stand for Privacy! Support the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act focuses on supporting PLEWSA

Or if you’d rather contact legislators yourself …

The House of Representatives’ switchboard is at 202-225-3121; if you’re not sure who your representative is you can look them up here.

“Please OPPOSE H.R. 6611, the “FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act” (FRRA) and any attempt to include a short-term extension of Section 702 in the NDAA. Please SUPPORT H.R. 6570, the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA). FRRA not only fails to reform FISA, it actually broadens mass surveillance authorities. We’ve seen too many examples of unchecked, warrantless surveillance of Americans. FISA Section 702 must not be reauthorized without significant reforms – and PLEWSA has support from legislators in both parties.”

And the Senate switchboard is at 202-224-3121.

“Please OPPOSE any attempt to include a short-term extension of FISA Section 702 in the NDAA, and please OPPOSE S.3351 – FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023. Instead, please SUPPRT S. 3234, the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2023, and SUPPORT H.R. 6570, the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA). FRRA not only fails to reform FISA, it actually broadens mass surveillance authorities. We’ve seen too many examples of unchecked, warrantless surveillance of Americans. FISA Section 702 must not be reauthorized without significant reforms – and GSRA and PLEWSA has support from legislators in both parties.”

More info:

• Competing Section 702 surveillance bills on collision path
• EPIC, Brennan Center, CDT: New HPSCI Bill Reauthorizing Section 702 Is “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”
• Letter from civil rights and racial justice groups opposing short-term extension in the NDAA
• EPIC Statement on the Introduction of the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA)
• Information about the Government Surveillance Reform Act — a much better altiernative than reauthorization

#FISA #Section702 @privacy