The US House of Representatives voted in the early hours of Friday to extend a key government surveillance authorisation for two weeks, after a Republican push for a five-year renewal failed to advance.
Members voted by unanimous consent to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through 30 April. The measure now heads to the Senate, which faces a tight deadline as the authorisation is set to expire on 20 April. A procedural vote began at around 12:15 a.m. local time (04:15 GMT).
President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Republican lawmakers to renew the provision, which permits US intelligence agencies to surveil foreign nationals abroad using data drawn from American digital infrastructure. Trump described Section 702 as vital to the US military and called on Republicans to present a united front in supporting its extension.
Section 702 is among a suite of surveillance powers enacted following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Critics argue it infringes Americans’ constitutional right to privacy.
(Reuters)
