Is the NSA About to Take Over the Internet? Snowden Raises the Alarm About FISA Bill

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has sounded the alarm over a new bill that could dramatically expand the U.S. government’s surveillance powers, warning that the National Security Agency (NSA) is “just days from taking over the internet.”

The NSA is just ???????????????? from taking over the internet, and it's not on the front page of any newspaper–because no one has noticed. https://t.co/qp5BimwOjI

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 15, 2024

The bill in question, which amends Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives despite strong opposition from privacy advocates and some politicians.

TLDR

• A new bill amending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) could significantly expand the NSA’s surveillance powers.
• The bill would allow the NSA to force a wide range of businesses and individuals providing internet-related services to assist in surveillance operations.
• Those compelled to hand over data would be subject to strict gag orders, preventing them from discussing the information provided.
• Critics, including Edward Snowden, Senator Ron Wyden, and Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, have voiced strong opposition to the bill, calling it a massive overreach of government surveillance powers and a threat to constitutional rights.
• Despite criticism, the bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is scheduled for a Senate vote on April 19.

The proposed changes to FISA 702 would allow the NSA to compel a wide range of businesses and individuals providing internet-related services to assist in surveillance operations.

This could include forcing small businesses such as barber shops, laundromats, and dentist’s offices that provide Wi-Fi to their customers to hand over sensitive data.

Additionally, the bill would impose strict gag orders on those required to provide information, preventing them from discussing the data they have been compelled to share.

Critics of the bill, including Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, have warned that the amendment represents a massive overreach of government surveillance powers.

If the bill becomes law, any company or individual that provides ANY service whatsoever may be forced to assist in NSA surveillance, as long as they have access to equipment on which communications are transmitted or stored—such as routers, servers, cell towers, etc. 6/25

— Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) April 15, 2024

Goitein has raised concerns that even service providers such as cleaners, plumbers, and IT service providers with access to laptops and routers inside people’s homes could be forced to act as “surrogate spies” for the NSA.

The bill has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden described the bill as “one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history,” vowing to do everything in his power to prevent it from passing through the Senate.

Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who voted against the bill in the House, called Section 702 an “irresponsible extension” of the NSA’s powers and argued that government agencies should be required to obtain a warrant if they want access to data.

Despite the strong opposition, the bill has moved forward and is scheduled for a Senate vote on April 19.

If passed into law, the amendment could grant the NSA sweeping authority to monitor and collect data, raising serious concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for abuse.

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