The US Senate has supported a bill to reform and expand Section 702 of the federal surveillance law, which allows electronic surveillance of aliens outside the United States , according to a statement from National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The corresponding section expired on April 19.
The House of Representatives earlier supported the bill, extending the law for 2 years (it was originally supposed to extend it for 5 years).
At the same time, an amendment that would have required intelligence agencies to obtain a warrant to access information on American citizens obtained through surveillance of foreigners was rejected. "We welcome Senate passage of House Bill 7888, Reforming Intelligence and Keeping America Safe"… The President will immediately sign the bill into law," said a press release posted on the White House website.
Section 702 of the US federal law FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) allows surveillance of individual foreign persons outside the US to obtain intelligence, including that used to fight international terrorism and counter cyber threats. This measure has been repeatedly criticized for violating the right to privacy.