What is the Section 702 surveillance program and why should you care?
The House voted Thursday to renew a controversial surveillance program that targets foreign terrorists but also sweeps up emails, texts and other electronic communication from an unknown number of Americans.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week, before the program expires on Jan. 19. The president, after issuing some confusing and contradictory tweets about the law, supports the House action, according to the White House.
Here's a look at what the surveillance law does and how it could affect you:
Which surveillance program are we talking about here?
The program is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act. The Section 702 program was originally approved by Congress in 2008 to increase the government's ability to track and thwart foreign terrorists in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
What is the Section 702 program designed to do?
The law gives U.S. intelligence agencies the power to spy on the electronic communications and phone calls of foreigners residing outside the United States to try to gather information about any terrorist plots or activities.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week, before the program expires on Jan. 19. The president, after issuing some confusing and contradictory tweets about the law, supports the House action, according to the White House.
Here's a look at what the surveillance law does and how it could affect you:
Which surveillance program are we talking about here?
The program is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act. The Section 702 program was originally approved by Congress in 2008 to increase the government's ability to track and thwart foreign terrorists in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
What is the Section 702 program designed to do?
The law gives U.S. intelligence agencies the power to spy on the electronic communications and phone calls of foreigners residing outside the United States to try to gather information about any terrorist plots or activities.
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