House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) and Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT) proposed a bill to replace the detective forces act and significantly expand the scope of American security.
A bill that would reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ), which was introduced by Turner and Himes, was proposed as an amendment to the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act ( RISAA ). Area 702 is meant to target foreign opponents, but, intelligence agencies often follow American citizens ‘ private communications without a warrant.
Although Himes and Turner claimed in their conclusion that their act “narrowly updates” Section 702’s definition of an electronic communication service provider, the proposal had significantly expand the scope of the areas that intelligence agencies could cover.
The measure expands the definition of an electric service provider to contain “any other service provider who has access to products that is being or may be used to convey or business cable or digital communications.”
In accordance with this contentious FISA delivery, the amendment would significantly increase the number of companies and their workers who could be forced to eavesdrop on their customers and grant illegal entry to their communications systems.
Privacy advocates have referred to this clause as a” trojan horse” for” PATRIOT Act 2.0.”
Marc Zwillinger, a major FISA professional and one of the five handpicked FISA Court Amici, explained:
Despite these limitations, the novel amendment would also permit the government to compel the participation of a variety of additional individuals and organizations in carrying out surveillance under FISA 702. The depth of the new concept is apparent from the fact that the authors felt compelled to remove areas like senior facilities, hotels, and coffee shops.  , But for these specific exceptions, the scope of the new definition would cover them. That’s not a “narrow” change.
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It also means that any U. S. business could have its communications ( if one side is foreign ) tapped by a landlord with access to office wiring, or the data centers where their computers reside, even if it eliminates the possibility that the same surveillance could be conducted with the assistance of hotels, restaurants, community centers, and other public retail establishments. For a specific hypothetical example of how this surveillance could occur, see our , prior blog post.
Zwillinger added that the proposal would likely expand the ability by which the government could “inadvertently” surveil U. S. citizens:
Most problematically, it would expand the use of warrantless surveillance under FISA 702 into a variety of new contexts where there is a particularly high likelihood that the communications of U. S. citizens and other persons in the U. S. will be “inadvertently” acquired by the government. And it raises the possibility that FISA 702 will become the norm and not the exception when it comes to the way the government acquires communications. Before it considers this amendment, Congress should be fully aware of that.
In a joint statement released in December, FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon and Demand Progress Policy Director Sean Vitka said something about a previous version of this proposal:
The FISA Reform , and Reauthorization Act is a Trojan Horse for PATRIOT Act 2.0. Chairman Turner and Ranking Member Himes should be embarrassed for deliberately or incompetently drafting legislation that would dramatically expand warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of FISA, the massive spying power that has been abused on a “persistent and widespread” basis. This is a staggering overreach that goes against the millions of Americans who call on Congress to protect their privacy. ]Emphasis added]
Rep. Tom Tiffany ( R- WI ) wrote,” No more warrantless searches of U. S. citizens. The FBI ought to be required to obtain a WARRANT.
No more warrantless searches of U. S. citizens.
The FBI ought to be required to obtain a warrant.
— Rep. Tom Tiffany ( @RepTiffany ) April 9, 2024
For Breitbart News, Sean Moran covers policy reporting. Follow him on Twitter , @SeanMoran3.
