Get FISA Right turns 18
Thanks to everybody who's been involved over the years!
Get FISA Right
Get FISA Right and say NO to mass surveillance
Latest posts
What next on FISA Section 702? Good question!
Once things do pick up, they're likely to start moving quickly. So ... stay tuned!
FISA Section 702 is going to lapse — and that’s a big deal (in a good way)
Both chambers of Congress have left town, meaning that FISA Section 702 won't be reauthorized by the June 12 "deadline". Even though the lapse is likely to be temporary, it's still a big deal. This is the first time these authorities have lapsed since they were put in place in 2008 -- the year Get FISA Right started. So thanks to all the legislators in both parties who voted "no" ... and thanks to…
Another short-term FISA extension? It looks unlikely … but never say never
UPDATE: House vote on reauthorization fails 198-218. Good news! Thanks to everybody who took action! Republicans just blocked a five week FISA extension in order to cover up ongoing FISA abuses. Senator Ron Wyden, on Bluesky Americans have made themselves clear — they want their basic right to privacy respected. I am a NO [ ]
FISA update: the fake “deadline” is approaching quickly
What a mess.
FISA Reauth down to the short strokes: new “deadline” June 12
The battle over FISA 702 reauthorization continues. A bipartisan coalition of reformers continue to press to introduce a warrant requirement and close the data broker loophole. Surveillance hawks continue to press for reauthorization without any meaningful reforms. In April, 42 Democrats joined the majority of House Republicans in passed a three-year authorization without meaningful reforms [ ]
FISA Reauth state of play: new “deadline” April 30
The battle over FISA 702 reauthorization continues. Last Thursday, Speaker Johnson tried to sneak through a horrible compromise proposal (a five-year extension with a fake warrant requirement in exchange for broadening FISA use in criminal cases) with almost no notice less than two hours from when the amended version was published until the vote. [ ]
FISA Reauthorization battle heats up – deadline is April 20
Buckle up, it's likely to be a very interesting month!
Comment on DHS Records Modification
We received notice from Restore the Fourth about a comment period on a DHS change to the agency’s record system. Disturbingly, they have already made the change, but now are asking for retroactive approval. Sorry, no approval from us! There are just 3 days left to comment, so have your say at this link. Here [ ]
Down to the “deadline”
The Senate may vote Friday on expansion of FISA Section 702 warrantless surveillance – and maybe also a warrant requirement
Senate to vote on RISAA, the “Everyone Is A Spy” expansion of FISA Section 702 warrantless surveillance
The vote's likely on Wednesday
House votes to extend and expand Section 702 surveillance powers — without adding a warrant requirement
Next week, the bill moves to the Senate. Stay tuned!
A FISA vote coming this week – UPDATED
So right now is a great time to contact your legislators!
Oppose extending FISA in the NDAA!
Last night, House Republican leadership decided not to go ahead with votes on the two FISA reauthorization bills. Instead, they re now planning to attach an extension to the must-pass NDAA effectively extending FISA until 2025.* See this letter from dozens of civil rights and racial justice groups opposing extending FISA in the NDAA for [ ]
Stop the surveillance power grab. Tell Congress to OPPOSE HPSCI’s Horrific Surveillance Bill and SUPPORT real reforms!
FISA Section 702 s authority for warrantless surveillance expires at the end of the year unless it s reauthorized. With Congress leaving DC on December 15, there s a lot of action this week including competing Section 702 surveillance bills on collision path in the House, two bills in the Senate as well, and perhaps an attempt [ ]
Get FISA Right has entered the fediverse!
We re heading into a busy time for FISA activism. FISA Section 702 expires in December 2023 unless Congress re-authorizes it, and the just-introduced bi-partisan Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA) combines significant FISA reforms with other important protections. And conveniently enough, WordPress now makes it easy to connect blogs to the fediverse, an decentralized ecosystem social [ ]
A Note from Restore the Fourth
Restore the Fourth: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Save Internet Privacy: Day of Action May 26th
I am posting here, almost in its entirety, a Rapid Response e-mail that I got today from Fight for the Future. (well, not quite—we don’t fund-raise, certainly not for ourselves [we are barely here, anymore!] and not since we supported Russ Feingold in his last run for the Senate [We miss you, Russ!], so donation [ ]
With the USA Freedom Act sunsetting in December – and FISA abuses in the news – it might get very interesting
When the Patriot Act was passed in 2001, and again when the FISA Amendment Act was passed in 2008, several key surveillance powers were supposed to sunset in a few years unless Congress voted to reauthorize them. Which Congress has, repeatedly, usually without even introducing significant reforms. Now it s the USA Freedom Act s turn to [ ]
Sunset Section 215
We need Congress to end Section 215 of the so-called PATRIOT Act now!
Ten Years Later: Get FISA Right and the Future of Civil Liberties Activism
Whether or not you were part of it back in the day, on our tenth anniversary, we'd love to hear your memories of Get FISA Right - and thoughts about the future of civil liberties activism.
Shahid Buttar is running for Congress!
I’m running for Congress because I can’t watch America’s constitutional crisis from the sidelines. San Francisco’s representative in Washington talks about resistance, but having been in the House for 30 years, she has become a pillar of the Washington establishment. Even worse, she has repeatedly caved under this maniacal President and compromised our rights . Watching [ ]
Restore the 4th says, Call now! Sunset 702!
Tweet at your Congressmember today to prevent a sneak vote for mass surveillance! In the House, surveillance hawks are trying to ram through a bill extending mass surveillance, without time for debate or amendment. If we can delay or defeat this vote, every day will make a huge difference in this fight. Section 702—the legal authority [ ]
USA Liberty Act Would Compromise Privacy
As Congress debates the “USA Liberty Act”, it is important to consider the implications for warrantless, back-door searches. The following information comes from the Brennan Center (https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/congress-cant-compromise-privacy); the entire article is worth reading to fully understand the importance of this issue and Section 702. [T]he problem with the USA Liberty Act’s…
Permanent mass surveillance, “LIBERTY”, or real reform? FISA 702 reauthorization update
With only a few months left before the deadline to reauthorize Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, the battle lines are starting to shape up. FISA provides the legal basis for warrantless surveillance, and when it was originally passed over strenuous objections from civil libertarians in 2008, it included a “sunset clause”. After being [ ]