Foreign policy & defense
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
The 1978 law governing surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes, and the secret court that reviews applications for it.
In full
FISA created a court of federal judges that reviews surveillance applications in closed proceedings with only the government present, and a review court above it. Section 702 authorizes collection targeting non-U.S. persons abroad, sweeping in Americans' communications incidentally, which is the central civil liberties dispute and the reason for its recurring sunsets.
Also written as: FISA court
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.