How Many U.S. Persons Does Section 702 Spy On? The ODNI Needs to Come Clean
The EFF and 23 organizations are urging the ODNI to disclose the number of U.S. communications collected under Section 702, highlighting privacy concerns and the need for transparency and accountability.
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with 23 other organizations, has urged the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to disclose how many U.S. persons' communications have been collected under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This demand arises from past commitments by the National Security Agency (NSA) to provide estimates of "incidental" collection of communications involving U.S. individuals. The letter emphasizes that without transparency, public trust in these agencies will erode. Section 702 allows surveillance of foreign targets but results in the incidental collection of communications from Americans due to the nature of international communication. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, can access these communications without a warrant, raising significant privacy concerns. EFF has been advocating for reforms to Section 702 for over a decade, but recent congressional actions have renewed the authority without necessary changes to protect privacy rights. The coalition's letter aims to enhance understanding of the extent of surveillance and push for accountability from the ODNI and NSA.
- EFF and 23 organizations demand transparency on U.S. persons affected by Section 702 surveillance.
- Section 702 allows incidental collection of communications from Americans during foreign surveillance.
- Law enforcement can access these communications without warrants, raising privacy issues.
- EFF has fought for reforms to Section 702 for over ten years, but recent renewals lacked necessary changes.
- The coalition seeks to restore public trust through increased transparency and accountability.
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