FISA
Government & Politics abbreviation · US Law
| Stands for | Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
FISA stands for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a US law abbreviation.
Law of 1978 that sets procedures for electronic surveillance and searches to gather foreign intelligence, created the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that approves such warrants and, through Section 702, authorizes collection on foreigners abroad via US companies.
Example: The FBI obtained a FISA warrant after showing probable cause the target was an agent of a foreign power.
Usage notes
Its origins lie in the Church Committee's exposure of warrantless domestic spying in the 1970s. Section 702 was added in 2008 and has been controversial because Americans' communications with foreign targets can be collected and searched; Congress reauthorized it in April 2024 for two years. The secret court is often called the FISC or FISA court.
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