President Biden’s approval of a bill expanding US spying powers stirs controversy. Supporters of the debated law believe they need to combat terrorism. Yet opponents claim the measure will impact the privacy of Americans.
President Biden’s Approves Controversial Bill
President Joe Biden signed a controversial bill. It provides more monitoring powers to US government agencies. Some people are showing concern about how this could affect the privacy of citizens.
The US Senate approved a bill on April 20. That bill modifies and extends section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for more than two years by a vote of 60-34.
The following day, President Biden signed the bill into law. Many representatives of various political parties, including President Biden, supported the law. They argued that it is necessary to fight terrorism and secure US national security.
Speaking in the Senate, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that:
“Allowing FISA to expire would have been dangerous. It’s an important part of our national security toolkit and helps law enforcement stop terrorist attacks, drug trafficking, and violent extremism,”
The opposition to the bill said that extending FIS monitoring would give more monitoring power to the agencies of government. These agencies include the NSA, FBI CIA etc.
Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program accused senators on April 20. Those senators supported the bill accusing them that they had “sold out American civil liberties.”
Goitein stated that:
“The provision effectively grants the NSA access to the communications equipment of almost any U.S. business, as well as huge numbers of organizations and individuals. It’s a gift to any president who may wish to spy on political enemies, journalists, ideological opponents.”
Biden said:
“This is a shameful moment in the history of the United States Congress.”
At present, US government groups like the NSA can order ISPs such as Google and Verizon. They give them sensitive data about certain people they are targeting.
President Biden signed the bill into law. It will allow the US government to expand its spying capabilities. More people and internet service providers will need to help with monitoring than they do now.
Republicans and Democrats who had privacy concerns first resisted the law. On April 13, the House of Representatives finally passed it. The House said no to a suggestion to make a rule for the Internet. It was further stated that security agencies must get permission before they spy on it.
Former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden said that the renewal of FISA Section 702 meant that Americans had “lost something important”, and called the legislation unlawful.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden called the bill among the most “dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history.”