Bill expands warrantless spying

WASHINGTON: Reformers had hoped the debate over the reauthorisation of a key United States domestic surveillance law would lead to new safeguards protecting US citizens’ data.

But after pressure on lawmakers by President Joe Biden’s administration, the Bill now headed to the Senate instead expands the scope of the country’s domestic surveillance programme, allowing police organisations including the FBI to access to a far broader swathe of sensitive data than before.

Missing from the legislation is any need for a warrant. A vote to require officials to seek judicial authorisation before exploiting the data failed 212212 in the House of Representatives yesterday.

‘‘It’s obviously pretty disappointing to have lost on a tie vote,’’ said Kia Hamadanchy, a senior policy counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The human rights organisation has been lobbying to reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or Fisa, which allows law enforcement to mine the massive data collected by US spies.

Hamadanchy said the bipartisan support for a warrant requirement was defeated in part by ‘‘incredible’’ pressure on congressional Democrats from the Biden administration.

‘‘It’s hard to say no to the White House of your own party.’’

A White House official said the administration had ‘‘many, many conversations’’ with lawmakers about the legal authorities of 702 ‘‘and the harmful impacts that some of these warrants would have to collect valuable and timely intel to protect the homeland’’. And national security adviser Jake Sullivan publicly backed the Bill.

As written, the Bill would allow US spies to draw data from ‘‘any service provider’’ with ‘‘access to equipment that is being or may be used to transmit or store wire or electronic communications.’’

The distributed nature of the internet means that could be virtually anyone.

Hamadanchy said Democrats should think about how the expanded surveillance powers might be used if Donald Trump were reelected in November.

‘‘It’s not just about whether you trust this president. It’s about whether you trust the office of the president,’’ he said.

The Senate is expected to hold a final vote on the Bill today. — Reuters