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US Senate Renews Foreign Surveillance Program

by VOA News

   The United States Senate has approved a bill reauthorizing an
   intelligence program that allows U.S. spy agencies to surveil foreign
   targets overseas, despite objections from privacy advocates that it
   falls short of safeguarding the privacy of Americans.

   The Senate voted 65-34 Thursday to renew the National Security Agency's
   warrantless internet program, which inadvertently captured
   communications from millions of Americans, for six years.

   U.S. intelligence officials consider the program vital, saying it has
   produced critically important information, including intelligence that
   helped lead to the March 2016 capture and killing of the second highest
   ranking commander of the Islamic State militant group.

   The measure gives the Federal Bureau of Investigation the ability to
   continuously scan the intelligence database for information on
   Americans. The measure requires the FBI, however, to obtain a warrant
   to view content unrelated to national security.

   The House of Representatives approved the measure last week and it now
   goes to President Donald Trump for him to sign into law. He is expected
   to do so by Friday.