Privacy security

Bipartisan group of lawmakers seeks to impose new curb on U.S. government spy power

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is seeking to impose a significant new restraint on law enforcement’s access to data gathered by the National Security Agency under a powerful authority that enables collection of foreign intelligence on U.S. soil.

The measure, contained in a bill unveiled Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee, is likely to set up a clash with the Trump administration in the coming weeks, with the legal power set to expire at year’s end. The administration wants the bill to be renewed without change — and permanently.

At the same time, civil liberties groups are arguing for stronger limits.

The law in question is often referred to as Section 702, a portion of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act amended in 2008. Its renewal is the intelligence community’s highest legislative priority this year.