CDT & Rights Groups Urge Reform of Section 702 Ahead of Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Although created by Congress as a tool to gather information about foreign terrorists, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is used to conduct hundreds of thousands of warrantless searches of Americans’ communications each year

The Brennan Center for Justice, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), and 19 other organizations ask Congress not to reauthorize Section 702 without major surveillance reforms

(WASHINGTON) — On Tuesday, June 13, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing, “Oversight of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Related Surveillance Authorities,” with high-level officials from the CIA, FBI, NSA, and other agencies as witnesses.

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, CDT, and 19 other organizations have submitted a statement urging Congress not to reauthorize Section 702 without substantial reforms to Section 702, FISA, and related surveillance authorities. They lay out the dangers the provision poses to Americans’ constitutional rights and propose changes to address them.

Section 702 is scheduled to expire on December 31 of this year.

Read the full statement.

CONTACTS:

—Sophia Lee, Brennan Center for Justice, [email protected], 646-925-8734

—Jake Laperruque, Center for Democracy & Technology, [email protected], 973-951-6344

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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is the leading nonpartisan, nonprofit organization fighting to advance civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age. We shape technology policy, governance, and design with a focus on equity and democratic values. Established in 1994, CDT has been a trusted advocate for digital rights since the earliest days of the internet.