The United States National Security Agency (NSA) is on the verge of seizing control over the internet through an extensive expansion of its surveillance capabilities, according to whistleblower Edward Snowden. Snowden recently drew attention to a post by Elizabeth Goitein, the co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, which warned of a new bill that could greatly increase the U.S. government’s surveillance powers. The bill in question is a reform and extension of a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) known as Section 702.
Currently, the NSA has the authority to compel internet service providers like Google and Verizon to hand over sensitive data related to NSA targets. However, Goitein argues that a seemingly insignificant change to the definition of “electronic communications surveillance provider” in the FISA 702 bill could allow the U.S. government to expand its surveillance far beyond its current boundaries, potentially obligating almost every company and individual involved in providing internet-related services to assist with NSA surveillance. Furthermore, those forced to disclose information would be prohibited from discussing the details due to severe penalties and conditions outlined in the bill.
The bill faced strong opposition from privacy-conscious Republicans but was ultimately passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 13. As a result of the backlash, the bill’s proposed spying powers time-frame was reduced from five years to two years, and some minor adjustments were made to the service providers included under the surveillance measures. However, according to Goitein, these amendments did little to limit the scope of the surveillance granted to the NSA. In fact, she believes that the changes could even require service providers like cleaners, plumbers, and IT professionals with access to laptops and routers in people’s homes to provide information and act as “surrogate spies.”
The bill has faced opposition from both sides of the political spectrum, with several government representatives arguing that it violates citizens’ constitutional rights. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden described the bill as “terrifying” and pledged to do everything in his power to prevent it from passing through the Senate. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who voted against the bill in the House of Representatives, criticized Section 702 as an “irresponsible extension” of the NSA’s powers and emphasized the need for government agencies to obtain a warrant for access to data.
The bill is scheduled to be voted on in the U.S. Senate on April 19.