Staff Reports
Progressive activists are furious with the Democratic Party for their support of a bill that would expand the government’s ability to monitor communications without adding new protections for Americans’ privacy. The bill, which renews Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, received most of its votes from Democrats in the House. A separate vote to require the FBI to obtain a warrant before accessing Americans’ communications data was shot down, with 126 Democrats and 86 Republicans opposing the warrant.
Progressive activists see ‘betrayal’ after Democrats save government snooping program for Bidenhttps://t.co/urm1aVl6sJ pic.twitter.com/az6b3GSZbA
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 15, 2024
The renewal of Section 702 would grant the government the power to gather a large amount of foreign communications data for two years. The House passed the legislation with a vote of 273-147, but the real controversy arose with the failed attempt to add a warrant requirement. FISA opponents plan to push for a re-vote, hoping to change the outcome with public pressure or the return of absent lawmakers. If unsuccessful, the measure will move on to the Senate where it is likely to be approved.
Intelligence officials argue that renewing Section 702 is crucial for national security, as it allows the government to monitor potential terrorist threats and emerging dangers. In a surprising shift, the opposition to FISA has shifted, with more Republicans opposing the renewal and fewer Democrats opposing it, despite the bill’s significant expansion of FISA’s authority to monitor a broader range of foreign intelligence activities.
The switch in Democrats’ support for the bill has left civil liberties advocates perplexed. Some believe pressure from the White House, along with misrepresentation of facts about the amendment, played a role in swaying Democratic support. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was also influential in rallying Democratic support for the renewal and rejecting the warrant requirement, despite her previous support for closing the 702 ‘back door loophole’ during the Obama administration.
