A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation that would reauthorize and reform a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that permits the National Security Agency to monitor communications of non-U.S. citizens outside the country as part of counterterrorism efforts.
A press release posted Friday on Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-Virginia) website stated that the USA Liberty Act would establish a new framework of protections and transparency standards to help ensure that government agencies preserve individual liberties while using FISA’s Section 702 for surveillance.
The proposed bill would create new accountability measures to address the disclosure of U.S. citizens’ identities and enforce reporting requirements on the number of Americans that have been monitored under Section 702 surveillance programs.
The legislation would also increase penalties for persons who leak classified information as well as foster information sharing between intelligence agencies and allies to fight terrorism.
