The push to reform a key surveillance law before it expires
From Consider This from NPR by NPR
June 11, 2026 · 8 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the urgency of reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before it expires, highlighting concerns over privacy and government surveillance of Americans.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is key to U.S. counterterrorism efforts. It authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies to intercept the electronic communications of foreign nationals, outside the United States. But foreign nationals also talk to Americans. And lawmakers in both parties have long protested that this collection of phone calls, text messages and emails allow government agencies to monitor the conversations of Americans without a judicial warrant. And FISA 702 is on a path to expire after Friday. Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice explains her proposal for reform. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for C onsider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at considerthis@npr.org. This episode was produced by Vincent Acovino, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. It features additional reporting by Eric McDaniel. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
People in this episode
Guest: Elizabeth Goitein
Topics covered
- surveillance law
- counterterrorism
- privacy
- FISA
- legislation
- reform
Keywords
- surveillance
- FISA 702
- reform
- privacy
- counterterrorism
- legislation
- electronic communications
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Brennan Center for Justice, NPR, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, U.S. intelligence agencies
Places: United States
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