Lawmakers consider extension of overseas surveillance powers

A House panel is considering renewing a law that gives officials broad leeway to conduct surveillance overseas when the target isn’t a US citizen.

The provision under Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has garnered concern from some Democrats, who worry the powers might be used to target American citizens and legal residents in the United States. The FISA measure, which expires at the end of the year, grants U.S. intelligence officials the power to monitor phone calls, emails and other communications of suspected terrorists abroad once they obtain a court order. The provision allows U.S. officials to get a blanket approval from the FISA court for surveillance outside of the United States without having to file individual applications for each person being monitored. Intelligence officials would still have to get specific permission to monitor the communications of U.S. citizens.