US Congress passes another short-term extension of expiring surveillance law
The US Congress passed a six-week extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act just hours before its expiration, delaying a final decision on proposed privacy reforms. The temporary measure followed disagreements between the House and Senate, particularly over an unrelated cryptocurrency ban and demands for transparency about a secret intelligence court ruling. Lawmakers remain divided on balancing national security needs with civil liberties, especially regarding warrantless surveillance and data collection practices.
- ▪Congress extended Section 702 of FISA by six weeks to allow more time for negotiations on privacy reforms.
- ▪Senator Ron Wyden demanded the public release of a March ruling by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that found certain surveillance tools violated privacy protections.
- ▪The House passed a three-year extension with a cryptocurrency ban, but the Senate rejected that version, leading to a temporary compromise.
- ▪The surveillance program can continue operating until March 2027 due to annual certification orders, even if the statute expires.
- ▪The short-term extension passed 261-111 in the House, with opposition from libertarian-leaning Republicans concerned about privacy protections.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
US Congress passes another short-term extension of expiring surveillance lawSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxSenator Ron Wyden, a longtime advocate of greater limits on government surveillance, demanded the public release of a ruling made by the nation's inteilligence court about the surveillance programme.PHOTO: KENNY HOLSTON/NYTIMESCharlie Savage, Michael GoldPublished May 01, 2026, 11:16 AMUpdated May 01, 2026, 11:16 AMWASHINGTON – The US Congress voted on April 30 to extend a high-profile warrantless surveillance law by six weeks, moving hours before its midnight expiration to punt the deadline as lawmakers continued to clash over proposals to add new privacy limits.It is the second time in April that Congress had provided a short-term patch for the law, a…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.