A mysterious provision added to a bill extending the Section 702 surveillance program has sparked concerns among privacy advocates, with the Senate set to vote on the bill soon. The provision, sponsored by Representatives Michael R. Turner and Jim Himes, is related to a dispute over whether a data center for cloud computing must cooperate with warrantless surveillance. While national security officials describe it as a narrow fix, privacy advocates fear it could be broadly used to draft ordinary service people as spies, and the provision's enigmatic terms have raised alarm.
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray urged lawmakers to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, citing a recent case where it helped authorities alert 300 potential victims of an Iran-linked cyberattack. Section 702 allows warrantless collection of electronic communications for foreign intelligence investigations, but privacy advocates argue for a warrant requirement to search the data. The House Intelligence Committee is considering legislation to reauthorize Section 702 without the warrant requirement, while the House Judiciary panel approved a bill that does require warrants.
State legislatures are taking action to improve privacy for personal data as data brokers continue to profit from collecting and selling information without proper consent or security measures. Privacy advocates argue that this data, which includes real-time location and spending habits, is obtained without permission. John Yang speaks with privacy counsel Emory Roane to discuss these concerns.
New York City police have announced plans to use surveillance drones to monitor large gatherings and noise complaints over the Labor Day weekend, including private events. The decision has sparked outcry from privacy advocates who argue that it infringes on constitutional rights and disproportionately targets Black and brown communities. Critics also accuse the NYPD of using technology as a PR stunt and breaking the law. Some argue that drone surveillance should require warrants, highlighting the fundamental differences between drones and manned aircraft. Earlier this year, a bill was introduced in the New York state senate to impose limitations on drone use for law enforcement purposes.
