Bush Signs Protect America Act of 2007
President Bush Sunday signed the Protect America Act of 2007, which expands for a six-month period the government’s power to undergo surveillance (without warrants) of foreign nationals it reasonably believes are outside the United States. In the meantime, Congress is to work on long-term legislation to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The U.S. Senate approved the law on Friday and the House of Representatives on Saturday.
The new law is designed to provide guidance to the National Security Agency in intercepting communication, such as telephone calls and emails that pass through the U.S. The legislation requires the agency to seek authorization of the director of national intelligence and the attorney general prior to beginning specific surveillance and requires the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to review the surveillance within 120 days.
Opponents say the legislation lacks judicial or congressional oversight of interception of communications between residents of the U.S. and persons overseas.
Source: Â http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/bush-signs-intelligence-surveillance.php
