April 5, 2024 10:15AM 

# Battle Over FISA Reauthorization Resumes Next Week 

By [Patrick G. Eddington](https://www.cato.org/people/patrick-g-eddington) 

---

<a class="js-popover-trigger cursor-pointer popover-trigger" data-bs-placement="bottom" data-bs-trigger="click" id="popover-trigger"> 

SHARE 

</a> 

![surveillance ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2024-02/surveillance%202.jpg?itok=5s0pOnik) 

Two items of note today from prominent inside-the-Beltway publications regarding the ongoing fight over whether Congress should reauthorize the serially abused Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 electronic mass surveillance authority. The first from *Punchbowl News*:

![Punchbowl News on FISA reauth battle April 5 2024](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2024-04/Screenshot%202024-04-05%20at%208.09.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=OfWYBBaS) 

The bill in question can be viewed [here](https://rules.house.gov/bill/118/hr-PIH-FISA).

The second item is from *[POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/inside-congress/2024/04/04/cracking-into-mccormicks-mail-ballots-mystery-00150668?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000014f-29b7-d3ee-ab5f-ffffb3ad0001&nlid=630318)* from late last night:

![POLITICO on FISA reauth fight April 4 2024](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2024-04/Screenshot%202024-04-05%20at%208.19.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=PkWY6vlQ) 

And whether you prefer the term “surveillance capitalism” or “corporate welfare,” the data broker industry is working hard to keep its 702-related contracts viable. Also from *POLITICO* [yesterday](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/04/04/lexisnexis-parent-company-lobbied-up-amid-fisa-fight-00150669):

![POLITICO on RELX hire of Venable for FISA fight April 4 2024](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2024-04/Screenshot%202024-04-05%20at%208.28.10%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=I2xR1nGg) 

Data collection on Americans has become a giant business over the last 30 years, one that law enforcement agencies benefit from enormously as it allows them to effectively circumvent the Fourth Amendment, outside of circumstances requiring the most intrusive surveillance techniques. For the corporate data brokers, it’s easy money from government agencies. It’s a toxic mix that FISA reformers are trying to end. Before spring 2024 ends, we’ll know whether or not they’ve succeeded.

##### Related Tags 

[Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).