The US Government asks Congress to extend a controversial spy tool

MADRID, 28 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The federal government of the United States has begun the procedures to formally request Congress to extend a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that, in practice, opens the door to mass espionage of communications for the sake of American national security.

The National Security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has confirmed the support of the Joe Biden Administration for the extension of what is known as Section 702, "a cornerstone of the national security of the United States" conceived in the Presidency of George H.W Bush and that it would continue to be "a valuable tool" to "protect Americans every day."

With this tool, Sullivan added in a statement, "US security agencies can respond to threats from China, Russia, hackers, terrorists, and all those seeking to damage critical infrastructure."

Section 702 allows the government to spy on citizens of other countries who are abroad without a warrant. Human rights organizations have warned that it gives rise to collateral espionage by people who should not be considered a threat to the United States or even by US citizens.

For the Biden Administration, extending Section 702 and other sections of FISA is "a priority", so various agencies will coordinate efforts so that it does not expire at the end of the year. However, the debate is weighed down already in advance by the political division, with a Congress controlled in equal parts by Republicans --in the House of Representatives-- and Democrats --in the Senate--.