Civil Unrest Elections

Congress reauthorized FISA Section 702 in April 2024 for two years, extending government authority to collect communications of non-U.S. persons abroad for foreign intelligence purposes until April 20, 2026. Information about U.S. persons may be incidentally acquired and later searched under certain circumstances. The Senate passed the renewal with a 60–34 vote. A 2024 Federal Trade Commission report found that major social media and video streaming companies engage in what the FTC calls vast surveillance of consumers, collecting extensive personal data to monetize users while failing to adequately protect them, particularly children and teens. The 2024 White House cybersecurity report states that a national goal is to protect Americans' data and privacy while enabling secure cross-border commerce. (Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, Congress.gov (H.R. 7888 summary), NPR, Federal Trade Commission*, Executive Office of the President (White House)*)

Congress reauthorized FISA Section 702 in April 2024 for two years, setting a new sunset date of April 20, 2026. The Senate passed the bill 60–34 and the President signed it to prevent the authority from expiring. (Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, NPR)

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court authorized government acquisitions under Section 702 for one year on April 5, 2024, meaning such acquisitions could continue for one year from that date even if statutory authority temporarily lapsed. (Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov)

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission published a staff report concluding that major social media and video streaming companies collect extensive personal data on users, including data used for targeted advertising, and that this constitutes pervasive consumer surveillance. (Federal Trade Commission*)

The 2024 White House cybersecurity report identified protecting Americans' data and privacy while enabling secure cross-border commerce as a national goal. (Executive Office of the President (White House)*)

Section 702 authorizes collection of communications of non-U.S. persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States for foreign intelligence purposes. Information about U.S. persons may be incidentally acquired during this collection and later searched under certain circumstances. (Congress.gov (H.R. 7888 summary))

The April 2024 reauthorization extended Section 702 for two years, until April 20, 2026. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court had already authorized acquisitions under Section 702 for one year starting April 5, 2024, which meant collection could continue for that year even if the statute temporarily lapsed. (Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov)

The Federal Trade Commission's 2024 report on social media and video streaming companies found that these platforms collect extensive personal data and use it for targeted advertising. The FTC characterized this as pervasive consumer surveillance and noted failures to adequately protect users, particularly children and teens. (Federal Trade Commission*)

The 2024 White House cybersecurity posture report states that protecting Americans' data and privacy while enabling secure, data-rich cross-border commerce is a national goal. (Executive Office of the President (White House)*)

Section 702 of FISA authorizes the government to collect communications of non-U.S. persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States for foreign intelligence purposes. Information about U.S. persons may be incidentally acquired and later searched under certain circumstances. (Congress.gov (H.R. 7888 summary))

Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) - FISA Section 702 Reauthorization — Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31

H.R. 7888 - Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act — Congress.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31

FISA Section 702 Reauthorization: Legal Sidebar on FISC Authorization — Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31

Senate Passes Reauthorization of Surveillance Program Under FISA — NPR, retrieved 2026-08-31

FTC Staff Report Finds Large Social Media and Video Streaming Companies Have Engaged in Vast Surveillance — Federal Trade Commission, retrieved 2026-08-31

2024 Report on the Cybersecurity Posture of the United States — Executive Office of the President (White House), retrieved 2026-08-31