A key spying power will sunset on Friday — here’s why

A powerful surveillance program — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — is set to statutorily lapse Friday for the first time in its history, capping months of failed negotiations over privacy and who should lead the nation’s spy agencies.

What is Section 702?

Section 702 lets U.S. intelligence agencies gather communications of foreigners located abroad without a warrant. It’s made possible because much of the world’s digital traffic flows through U.S.-based companies and internet infrastructure.

The law, enacted in 2008, codified parts of the once-secret Stellarwind surveillance program created under the Bush administration after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden disclosed documents detailing how the authority was used, fueling a global debate over privacy and mass surveillance.

The authority is widely viewed by intelligence officials as one of the government’s most vital national security tools, used for counterterrorism, cyber defense...

Copyright of this story solely belongs to nextgov.com. To see the full text click HERE