Obama signs renewal of foreign surveillance law

December 30, 2012 @ 2:49 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has signed into law a five-year extension of the U.S. government's authority to monitor the overseas activity of suspected foreign spies and terrorists.

The warrantless intercept program would have expired at the end of 2012 without the president's approval. The renewal bill won final passage in the Senate on Friday.

Known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law allows the government to monitor overseas phone calls and emails without obtaining a court order for each intercept.

The law does not apply to Americans. When Americans are targeted for surveillance, the government must get a warrant from a special 11-judge court of U.S. district judges appointed by the Supreme Court.


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
More National News
Top Stories

  • Now What?
    Investigators, engineers, and lawmakers seek answers to fixing I-5 after bridge collapse

  • Survivor's Tale
    "I hit the brakes and we went off"

  • Bridge Distress
    Washington has an unfortunate history of bridge disasters
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (4)


  • Add A Comment

  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    What?! Surveillance?
    December 30, 2012 2:44 pm
    But that's not "fair". Those poor terrorists are just trying to live their lives. Man, the left is gonna be pissed....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    The left's silence is deafening
    December 30, 2012 2:49 pm
    Where is the hue and cry from the left. You know the left, the protectors of privacy. I guess it is ok if the President that signs this extension is a lefty liek themselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    When....
    December 30, 2012 6:53 pm
    The Obama administration saves your sorry butt from a terrorist attack, like they have many more times than they will admit, thank your lucky stars you don't have a republican in charge. A republican would trip over his necktie and start WW3. No stupider party ever existed than the republicans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    See. I knew wrongway would jump up and show his hypocrisy!
    December 31, 2012 4:47 pm
    Imagine if Bush had done this. Oh, wait. He did! And he was vilified by the left and the media at every opportunity. Now a commie does the same and it's "he's just protecting us...you should thank his Heiness..." HYPOCRITES!!!!!! And wrongway is out front of the hypocrite parade....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }