The FISA Amendments Act, passed in 2008 and reauthorized in 2012, gives the National Security Agency almost unchecked power to monitor Americans鈥� international phone calls and emails. On October 29, 2012, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 challenge to the law. In February 2013, the Supreme Court dismissed the 老澳门开奖结果's lawsuit.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), enacted by Congress after the abuses of the 1960s and 70s, regulates the government鈥檚 conduct of intelligence surveillance inside the United States. It generally requires the government to seek warrants before monitoring Americans鈥� communications. In 2001, however, President Bush authorized the NSA to launch a warrantless wiretapping program, and in 2008 Congress ratified and expanded that program.
Key Resources
- How the NSA's Surveillance Procedures Threaten Americans' Privacy: An 老澳门开奖结果 fact sheet explaining what the Guardian disclosures show about how the NSA is implementing the FAA.
- 老澳门开奖结果 letter and surveillance coalition letter to the Senate urging 鈥淣O鈥� vote on a five-year extension of the FISA Amendments Act
- : A recent op-ed from Michelle Richardson
- May 2012 House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on 2008 FISA Amendments Act: 老澳门开奖结果 prepared testimony and
- Amnesty v. Clapper, the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 constitutional challenge to the 2008 FISA Amendments Act
- 老澳门开奖结果 v. DOJ, the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Freedom of Information Act suit for information about the use and abuse of the 2008 FISA Amendments Act
- 老澳门开奖结果 letter and surveillance coalition letter to the House of Representatives urging 鈥淣O鈥� vote on a five-year extension of the FISA Amendments Act
- Backgrounder: Why the 2008 FISA Amendments Act is unconstitutional
