A Senate vote on reauthorizing the constitutionally corrosive could come as soon as Wednesday, April 17
The U.S. Senate could vote as soon as tomorrow on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), raising long-term concerns about potential surveillance abuse. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on all Americans to take action and urge the U.S. Senate to close all backdoor search and data broker loopholes before considering any reauthorization of Section 702.
TAKE ACTION: URGE THE U.S. SENATE TO PROTECT YOUR DATA, REFORM SEC. 702!
Contact your U.S. Senator immediately and urge them to: “Vote ‘NO’ on the reauthorization of FISA unless backdoor and data broker loopholes are closed. The unchecked warrantless surveillance of Americans must end now!”
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the two-year renewal of Section 702, without adopting any proposed meaningful reforms to close backdoor search or data broker loopholes.
Privacy hawks like Democratic Oregon Senator Ron Wyden have called the House adopted authorization one of “the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history,” adding that, “It allows the government to force any American who installs, maintains, or repairs anything that transmits or stores communications to spy on the government’s behalf. That means anyone with access to a server, a wire, a cable box, a Wi-Fi router, or a phone. It would be secret: the Americans receiving the government directives would be bound to silence, and there would be no court oversight. I will do everything in my power to stop this bill.”
Last month, CAIR joined 100 organizations, including Muslim Advocates, Muslims for Just Futures, and Lucy Parsons Labs, in a letter to Congress calling for an end to scapegoating of Pro-Palestine protests in order to expand mass surveillance – urging congressional leaders to support shutting down the backdoor search and data broker loopholes before considering any reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA.
As it stands, Section 702 permits government agencies like the FBI to collect phone records and internet activity of foreigners overseas. However, CAIR has long opposed Section 702 as it also allows the government to collect the phone records and internet activity of millions of Americans communicating with overseas family members, friends, schools, nonprofits, and businesses without a warrant. This authority has also been misused to surveil activists, journalists, and even Congressman Darin Lahood (R-IL).
It has also been revealed that the U.S. military in November 2020 and April 2022 similarly acquired Islamic prayer and marriage apps and cellphone metadata, leading to ongoing U.S. government surveillance of Muslims in the United States and abroad.
This data potentially provides insights into Muslims’ prayer habits, religious studies, precise locations, and interactions with others using these apps. Overseas, the metadata collected could be utilized by the U.S. military and CIA to target Muslims for further surveillance, drone operations, or other activities.
In February, Wired reported alarming tactics employed by Republican House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner to justify the continuation of the backdoor search loophole within FISA Section 702. Chairman Turner’s misguided efforts, citing ceasefire protests as a pretext, endanger privacy rights and perpetuate mass surveillance practices that undermine fundamental freedoms.
Chairman Turner and Democrat Jim Himes are advocating for legislation that would increase warrantless surveillance, targeting pro-Palestinian advocates, immigrants, and their families. This push disregards the Fourth Amendment and sets a dangerous precedent for unchecked government surveillance.
We must unite to hold our elected officials accountable and safeguard our privacy rights. Together, we can ensure that Congress prioritizes meaningful reforms that protect the constitutional rights of all Americans.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com