US President Donald Trump signs bill renewing foreign surveillance programme
Washington, Jan 20 (IBNS): In another major move, US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he signed into law a bill which aims to renew the National Security Agency’s warrantless internet surveillance program.
With the signing, he bill got a new six years extension.
It was set to expire on Friday.
The bill is also known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
President Trump said for him safety of the US citizens is his first priority.
"Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!," Trump tweeted.
Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes called the bill as a crucial 'anti-terrorism tool'.
"This bill reauthorizes a crucial anti-terrorism tool—with increased privacy protections—that helps track foreign terrorists and thwart attacks on Americans. Additionally, the President had already ordered a fix to problems in unmasking procedures, which should give Americans confidence that the Intelligence Community will use this authority to defend Americans’ safety and security while fully respecting their privacy rights," he said in a statement.
The US government was earlier criticised for their move to secretly collect phone and online data on US and foreign citizens.
The criticisms occurred after 2013 leaks by American whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Image: US President Facebook page
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