Trump’s DNI Pick Gabbard Reverses Stance on FISA Surveillance Authority
Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump's choice as director of national intelligence, supports maintaining controversial surveillance authorities under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702, according to a statement Friday. An opponent of FISA Section 702 while serving as a House…
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Democrat, Gabbard now says she believes it’s “crucial for gathering foreign intelligence on non-U.S. persons abroad." Federal law enforcement agencies use Section 702 to compel phone companies and internet service providers to share communications data, including phone calls, texts and emails, for investigations of foreign targets. Privacy advocates have long sought a warrant requirement for Section 702. In 2018, Gabbard spoke against renewing Section 702, saying it violates civil liberties. Friday she said, "My prior concerns about FISA were based on insufficient protections for civil liberties, particularly regarding the FBI's misuse of warrantless search powers on American citizens.” Gabbard added, “Significant FISA reforms have been enacted since my time in Congress to address these issues.”