What is the core function of Section 702 surveillance law?

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Section 702 of FISA enables the collection of foreign intelligence by allowing authorities to gather communications from foreign targets located outside the United States.

The core function of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is to permit the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign individuals located outside the United States, with the assistance of communication providers. This provision is a significant tool for collecting foreign intelligence by allowing authorities to gather communications from these foreign targets overseas. The law specifically targets non-U.S. citizens abroad.
Collection of Foreign Communications

Section 702, established as a key provision of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, enables the government to acquire communications data from foreign persons located outside U.S. territory. This process involves the compelled assistance of communication service providers. The primary aim is to gather intelligence on foreign adversaries and threats abroad.
Searchability of Data for American Information

While Section 702 is designed to target non-U.S. citizens overseas, the collected data can be searched for information pertaining to Americans. This occurs when U.S. citizens may have communicated with a foreign individual who is under surveillance. Agencies such as the FBI, NSA, CIA, and the National Counterterrorism Center have been reported to search this data for Americans' phone calls, emails, and text messages without requiring a warrant.
Legal Framework and Limitations

The law explicitly prohibits U.S. agencies from targeting U.S. citizens, irrespective of their location, and also forbids collecting data on anyone located within the United States. Furthermore, it prohibits targeting a non-American with the express purpose of obtaining information about a U.S. citizen. Despite these prohibitions, millions of Americans can become incidentally included in surveillance databases if they interact with a targeted foreigner.

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What is the core function of Section 702 surveillance law?

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