CTA, ITI, Others Urge Lawmakers to Pursue Balanced Path on Section 702 Reauthorization

The technology industry is urging House and Senate Republican and Democratic leaders of the Intelligence and Judiciary committees to provide a balanced approach and open debate on the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is to expire by year's end. "It is critical that Congress takes a balanced yet focused approach with respect to Section 702," wrote BSA|The Software Alliance, the Computer & Communications Industry Association, CTA, the Information Technology Industry Council, the Internet Association and TechNet in a Wednesday letter. "We urge your committees to ensure that any reauthorization includes meaningful safeguards for internet users' privacy and civil liberties, measures to ensure transparency and accountability, and a commitment to continued Congressional oversight." Such an approach, the industry groups wrote, would preserve the intelligence community's need for critical data from foreign sources and ensure digital security and privacy protections. They also want the debate to be open so as to help build public trust in such intelligence activities. Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect information about non-U.S. persons who are under investigation and located overseas (see 1605100001). Critics say Americans are likely getting swept up in such surveillance activities and may be subject to a search without a warrant (see 1612160040). The letter was addressed to House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and ranking member John Conyers, D-Mich., House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and ranking member Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va.