President Donald Trump renewed Section 702 that refers to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The president announced his decision to pass into a law a Bill that authorizes the National Security Agency unlimited access to nationals’ communication data. The NSA will not only collect data from Americans but outside their jurisdiction as well. The renewal will last for the next 6 years.

The move by President to pass into law the 702 Bill is a huge setback for online privacy advocacies. Online users will lose all the rights to their online privacy. The government can spy on their online communications through phone calls, VOIPs, emails and social media sites without a warrant. We realize truth in these words, “The people living in this era have lost their privacy.” From January 11 to 19, there was a lot of uncertainty on the bill. President Trump would often tweet contradicting statements that left the US House of Representatives guessing.

The move by President to pass into law the 702 Bill is a huge setback for online privacy advocacies. Online users will lose all the rights to their online privacy. The government can spy on their online communications through phone calls, VOIPs, emails and social media sites without a warrant.

Statement by the House Permanent Select Committee

• That the bill re-authorizes a crucial anti-terrorism tool.
• That the bill increases privacy protection.
• That the bill helps track foreign terrorists and attack on America.
• That the president ordered evaluated means to unmask procedures, so Americans should feel confident that the National Intelligence would defend their safety and security while respecting their privacy rights.

The bill disappointed privacy defenders who vowed to continue the fight. Some defenders feel that the bill has the right motive but poor execution. There is a need for significant privacy safeguards but with less invasive privacy measures. Even the surveillance of international targets still captures Americans’ private information. According to Goiten, the bill also collects words that merely contain a reference to the target.