House GOP Postpones Surveillance Reform Fight, Extends Controversial Section 702 Spying Law
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House Republicans postponed a fight over renewing surveillance law Section 702, deciding to simply extend it to April instead of debating competing reform bills.
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Two committees produced bipartisan reform bills, but a contentious GOP meeting saw no compromise between them reached.
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Extending Section 702 through April 10 means it could automatically become a 16-month extension, concerning civil liberties advocates.
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Section 702 allows tracking of foreigners abroad suspected of spying but has been misused to surveil Americans without warrants.
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The program originated after 9/11 when the Bush admin illegally intercepted communications between Americans and suspected terrorists.