Senator Wyden Warns Americans Will Be Stunned by Secret Section 702 Surveillance Abuse
Privacy hawk says classified surveillance practice should be declassified before Congress reauthorises warrantless spying programme
Speaking on the Senate floor during debate over the nomination of Joshua Rudd to lead the NSA, Wyden said he has asked multiple administrations to declassify the matter and that all have refused, though he is still awaiting a response from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows warrantless surveillance of foreign targets but has repeatedly been found to sweep up communications of Americans as well. Wyden, a longtime critic of government surveillance overreach, has a track record of issuing carefully worded warnings about classified programmes that later prove accurate.
Wyden argued that the matter should be declassified and debated openly before Section 702 is reauthorised, with its upcoming deadline creating a window for reform. As security researcher Bruce Schneier noted, over the decades observers have learned to take Wyden's warnings seriously.
Analysis
Why This Matters
Wyden has a proven track record of flagging surveillance abuses years before they become public. His warning about a secret practice affecting Americans' privacy rights under Section 702 suggests another major NSA scandal may be waiting to surface.
Background
Section 702 was last reauthorised with support from many Democrats despite ongoing concerns about warrantless collection of American communications. Previous Wyden warnings preceded revelations about bulk metadata collection and other programmes.
What to Watch
Whether DNI Gabbard agrees to declassify the matter, and whether the upcoming reauthorisation debate becomes a vehicle for reform or another rubber stamp.