50 U.S.C. § 1881a (WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE)
§ 1881a. Procedures for targeting certain persons outside the United States other than United States persons
(a) Authorization
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the issuance of an order in accordance with subsection (j)(3) or a determination under subsection (c)(2), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may authorize jointly, for a period of up to 1 year from the effective date of the authorization, the targeting of persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information.
(b) Limitations
An acquisition authorized under subsection (a)—
(1) may not intentionally target any person known at the time of acquisition to be located in the United States;
(2) may not intentionally target a person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States if the purpose of such acquisition is to target a particular, known person reasonably believed to be in the United States;
(3) may not intentionally target a United States person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States;
(4) may not intentionally acquire any communication as to which the sender and all intended recipients are known at the time of the acquisition to be located in the United States;
(5) may not intentionally acquire communications that contain a reference to, but are not to or from, a target of an acquisition authorized under subsection (a); and
(6) shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(c) Conduct of acquisition
(1) In general
An acquisition authorized under subsection (a) shall be conducted only in accordance with—
(A) the targeting and minimization procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d) and (e); and
(B) upon submission of a certification in accordance with subsection (h), such certification.
(2) Determination
A determination under this paragraph and for purposes of subsection (a) is a determination by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence that exigent circumstances exist because, without immediate implementation of an authorization under subsection (a), intelligence important to the national security of the United States may be lost or not timely acquired and time does not permit the issuance of an order pursuant to subsection (j)(3) prior to the implementation of such authorization.
(3) Timing of determination
The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may make the determination under paragraph (2)—
(A) before the submission of a certification in accordance with subsection (h); or
(B) by amending a certification pursuant to subsection (j)(1)(C) at any time during which judicial review under subsection (j) of such certification is pending.
(4) Construction
Nothing in subchapter I shall be construed to require an application for a court order under such subchapter for an acquisition that is targeted in accordance with this section at a person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States.
(d) Targeting procedures
(1) Requirement to adopt
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall adopt targeting procedures that are reasonably designed to—
(A) ensure that any acquisition authorized under subsection (a) is limited to targeting persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States; and
(B) prevent the intentional acquisition of any communication as to which the sender and all intended recipients are known at the time of the acquisition to be located in the United States.
(2) Judicial review
The procedures adopted in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to subsection (j).
(e) Minimization procedures
(1) Requirement to adopt
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall adopt minimization procedures that meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801(h) of this title or section 1821(4) of this title, as appropriate, for acquisitions authorized under subsection (a).
(2) Judicial review
The minimization procedures adopted in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to subsection (j).
(3) Publication
The Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall—
(A) conduct a declassification review of any minimization procedures adopted or amended in accordance with paragraph (1); and
(B) consistent with such review, and not later than 180 days after conducting such review, make such minimization procedures publicly available to the greatest extent practicable, which may be in redacted form.
(f) Queries
(1) Procedures required
(A) Requirement to adopt
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall adopt querying procedures consistent with the requirements of the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States for information collected pursuant to an authorization under subsection (a).
(B) Record of United States person query terms
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall ensure that the procedures adopted under subparagraph (A) include a technical procedure whereby a record is kept of each United States person query term used for a query.
(C) Judicial review
The procedures adopted in accordance with subparagraph (A) shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to subsection (j).
(2) Prohibition on conduct of queries that are solely designed to find and extract evidence of a crime
(A) Limits on authorizations of United States person queries
The querying procedures adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) for the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall prohibit queries of information acquired under subsection (a) that are solely designed to find and extract evidence of criminal activity.
(B) Exceptions
The restriction under subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a query if—
(i) there is a reasonable belief that such query may retrieve information that could assist in mitigating or eliminating a threat to life or serious bodily harm; or
(ii) such query is necessary to identify information that must be produced or preserved in connection with a litigation matter or to fulfill discovery obligations in criminal matters under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.
(3) Restrictions imposed on Federal Bureau of Investigation
(A) Limits on authorizations of United States person queries
(i) In general
Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel must obtain prior approval from a Federal Bureau of Investigation supervisor (or employee of equivalent or greater rank) or attorney who is authorized to access unminimized contents or noncontents obtained through acquisitions authorized under subsection (a) for any query of such unminimized contents or noncontents made using a United States person query term.
(ii) Exception
A United States person query to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of unminimized contents or noncontents obtained through acquisitions authorized under subsection (a) using a United States person query term may be conducted without obtaining prior approval as specified in clause (i) only if the person conducting the United States person query has a reasonable belief that conducting the query could assist in mitigating or eliminating a threat to life or serious bodily harm.
(B) Notification requirement for certain FBI queries
(i) Requirement
The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall promptly notify appropriate congressional leadership of any query conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation using a query term that is reasonably believed to be the name or other personally identifying information of a member of Congress, and shall also notify the member who is the subject of such query.
(ii) Appropriate congressional leadership defined
In this subparagraph, the term “appropriate congressional leadership” means the following:
(I) The chairs and ranking minority members of the congressional intelligence committees.
(II) The Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(III) The majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
(iii) National security considerations
In submitting a notification under clause (i), the Director shall give due regard to the protection of classified information, sources and methods, and national security.
(iv) Waiver
(I) In general
The Director may waive a notification required under clause (i) if the Director determines such notification would impede an ongoing national security or law enforcement investigation.
(II) Termination
A waiver under subclause (I) shall terminate on the date the Director determines the relevant notification would not impede the relevant national security or law enforcement investigation or on the date that such investigation ends, whichever is earlier.
(C) Consent required for FBI to conduct certain queries for purpose of defensive briefing
(i) Consent required
The Federal Bureau of Investigation may not, for the exclusive purpose of supplementing the contents of a briefing on the defense against a counterintelligence threat to a member of Congress, conduct a query using a query term that is the name or restricted personal information (as such term is defined in section 119 of title 18) of that member unless—
(I) the member provides consent to the use of the query term; or
(II) the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation determines that exigent circumstances exist sufficient to justify the conduct of such query.
(ii) Notification
(I) Notification of consent sought
Not later than three business days after submitting a request for consent from a member of Congress under clause (i), the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall notify the appropriate congressional leadership, regardless of whether the member provided such consent.
(II) Notification of exception used
Not later than three business days after the conduct of a query under clause (i) without consent on the basis of the existence of exigent circumstances determined under subclause (II) of such clause, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall notify the appropriate congressional leadership.
(iii) Rule of construction
Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed as—
(I) applying to matters outside of the scope of the briefing on the defense against a counterintelligence threat to be provided or supplemented under clause (i); or
(II) limiting the lawful investigative activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation other than supplementing the contents of a briefing on the defense against a counterintelligence threat to a member of Congress.
(iv) Appropriate congressional leadership defined
In this subparagraph, the term “appropriate congressional leadership” means the following:
(I) The chairs and ranking minority members of the congressional intelligence committees.
(II) The Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(III) The majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
(D) Querying procedures applicable to Federal Bureau of Investigation
For any procedures adopted under paragraph (1) applicable to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall include the following requirements:
(i) Training
A requirement that, prior to conducting any query, personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation successfully complete training on the querying procedures on an annual basis.
(ii) Additional prior approvals for sensitive queries
A requirement that, absent exigent circumstances, prior to conducting certain queries, personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation receive approval, at minimum, as follows:
(I) Approval from the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the query uses a query term reasonably believed to identify a United States elected official, an appointee of the President or a State governor, a United States political candidate, a United States political organization or a United States person prominent in such organization, or a United States media organization or a United States person who is a member of such organization.
(II) Approval from an attorney of the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the query uses a query term reasonably believed to identify a United States religious organization or a United States person who is prominent in such organization.
(III) Approval from an attorney of the Federal Bureau of Investigation if such conduct involves batch job technology (or successor tool).
(iii) Prior written justification
A requirement that, prior to conducting a query using a United States person query term, personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation provide a written statement of the specific factual basis to support the reasonable belief that such query meets the standards required by the procedures adopted under paragraph (1). For each United States person query, the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall keep a record of the query term, the date of the conduct of the query, the identifier of the personnel conducting the query, and such written statement.
(iv) Storage of certain contents and noncontents
Any system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that stores unminimized contents or noncontents obtained through acquisitions authorized under subsection (a) together with contents or noncontents obtained through other lawful means shall be configured in a manner that—
(I) requires personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to affirmatively elect to include such unminimized contents or noncontents obtained through acquisitions authorized under subsection (a) when running a query; or
(II) includes other controls reasonably expected to prevent inadvertent queries of such unminimized contents or noncontents.
(v) Waiver authority for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
If the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court finds that the procedures adopted under paragraph (1) include measures that are reasonably expected to result in similar compliance outcomes as the measures specified in clauses (i) through (iv) of this subparagraph, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court may waive one or more of the requirements specified in such clauses.
(vi) Prohibition on political appointees within the process to approve Federal Bureau of Investigation queries
The procedures shall prohibit any political personnel, such as those classified by the Office of Personnel Management as Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation, Presidential Appointment (without Senate Confirmation), Noncareer Senior Executive Service Appointment, or Schedule C Excepted Appointment, from inclusion in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s prior approval process under clause (ii).
(4) Minimum accountability standards
The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall issue minimum accountability standards that set forth escalating consequences for noncompliant querying of United States person terms within the contents of communications that were acquired under this section. Such standards shall include, at minimum, the following:
(A) Zero tolerance for willful misconduct.
(B) Escalating consequences for unintentional noncompliance, including the threshold for mandatory revocation of access to query information acquired under this section.
(C) Consequences for supervisors who oversee users that engage in noncompliant queries.
(5) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) The term “contents” has the meaning given that term in section 2510(8) of title 18.
(B) The term “query” means the use of one or more terms to retrieve the unminimized contents or noncontents located in electronic and data storage systems of communications of or concerning United States persons obtained through acquisitions authorized under subsection (a).
(6) Vetting of non-United States persons
For any procedures for one or more agencies adopted under paragraph (1)(A), the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall ensure that the procedures enable the vetting of all non-United States persons who are being processed for travel to the United States using terms that do not qualify as United States person query terms under this chapter.
(g) Guidelines for compliance with limitations
(1) Requirement to adopt
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall adopt guidelines to ensure—
(A) compliance with the limitations in subsection (b); and
(B) that an application for a court order is filed as required by this chapter.
(2) Submission of guidelines
The Attorney General shall provide the guidelines adopted in accordance with paragraph (1) to—
(A) the congressional intelligence committees;
(B) the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and
(C) the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
(h) Certification
(1) In general
(A) Requirement
Subject to subparagraph (B), prior to the implementation of an authorization under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall provide to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court a written certification and any supporting affidavit, under oath and under seal, in accordance with this subsection.
(B) Exception
If the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence make a determination under subsection (c)(2) and time does not permit the submission of a certification under this subsection prior to the implementation of an authorization under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the Court a certification for such authorization as soon as practicable but in no event later than 7 days after such determination is made.
(2) Requirements
A certification made under this subsection shall—
(A) attest that—
(i) there are targeting procedures in place that have been approved, have been submitted for approval, or will be submitted with the certification for approval by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that are reasonably designed to—
(I) ensure that an acquisition authorized under subsection (a) is limited to targeting persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States; and
(II) prevent the intentional acquisition of any communication as to which the sender and all intended recipients are known at the time of the acquisition to be located in the United States;
(ii) the minimization procedures to be used with respect to such acquisition—
(I) meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801(h) or 1821(4) of this title, as appropriate; and
(II) have been approved, have been submitted for approval, or will be submitted with the certification for approval by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court;
(iii) guidelines have been adopted in accordance with subsection (g) to ensure compliance with the limitations in subsection (b) and to ensure that an application for a court order is filed as required by this chapter;
(iv) the procedures and guidelines referred to in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) are consistent with the requirements of the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
(v) a significant purpose of the acquisition is to obtain foreign intelligence information;
(vi) the acquisition involves obtaining foreign intelligence information from or with the assistance of an electronic communication service provider; and
(vii) the acquisition complies with the limitations in subsection (b);
(B) include the procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d) and (e);
(C) be supported, as appropriate, by the affidavit of any appropriate official in the area of national security who is—
(i) appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; or
(ii) the head of an element of the intelligence community;
(D) include—
(i) an effective date for the authorization that is at least 30 days after the submission of the written certification to the court; or
(ii) if the acquisition has begun or the effective date is less than 30 days after the submission of the written certification to the court, the date the acquisition began or the effective date for the acquisition; and
(E) if the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence make a determination under subsection (c)(2), include a statement that such determination has been made.
(3) Change in effective date
The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may advance or delay the effective date referred to in paragraph (2)(D) by submitting an amended certification in accordance with subsection (j)(1)(C) to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for review pursuant to subsection (i).1
(4) Limitation
A certification made under this subsection is not required to identify the specific facilities, places, premises, or property at which an acquisition authorized under subsection (a) will be directed or conducted.
(5) Maintenance of certification
The Attorney General or a designee of the Attorney General shall maintain a copy of a certification made under this subsection.
(6) Review
A certification submitted in accordance with this subsection shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to subsection (j).
(i) Directives and judicial review of directives
(1) Authority
With respect to an acquisition authorized under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may direct, in writing, an electronic communication service provider to—
(A) immediately provide the Government with all information, facilities, or assistance necessary to accomplish the acquisition in a manner that will protect the secrecy of the acquisition and produce a minimum of interference with the services that such electronic communication service provider is providing to the target of the acquisition; and
(B) maintain under security procedures approved by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence any records concerning the acquisition or the aid furnished that such electronic communication service provider wishes to maintain.
(2) Compensation
The Government shall compensate, at the prevailing rate, an electronic communication service provider for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with a directive issued pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) Release from liability
No cause of action shall lie in any court against any electronic communication service provider for providing any information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with a directive issued pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4) Challenging of directives
(A) Authority to challenge
An electronic communication service provider receiving a directive issued pursuant to paragraph (1) may file a petition to modify or set aside such directive with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which shall have jurisdiction to review such petition.
(B) Assignment
The presiding judge of the Court shall assign a petition filed under subparagraph (A) to 1 of the judges serving in the pool established under section 1803(e)(1) of this title not later than 24 hours after the filing of such petition.
(C) Standards for review
A judge considering a petition filed under subparagraph (A) may grant such petition only if the judge finds that the directive does not meet the requirements of this section, or is otherwise unlawful.
(D) Procedures for initial review
A judge shall conduct an initial review of a petition filed under subparagraph (A) not later than 5 days after being assigned such petition. If the judge determines that such petition does not consist of claims, defenses, or other legal contentions that are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law, the judge shall immediately deny such petition and affirm the directive or any part of the directive that is the subject of such petition and order the recipient to comply with the directive or any part of it. Upon making a determination under this subparagraph or promptly thereafter, the judge shall provide a written statement for the record of the reasons for such determination.
(E) Procedures for plenary review
If a judge determines that a petition filed under subparagraph (A) requires plenary review, the judge shall affirm, modify, or set aside the directive that is the subject of such petition not later than 30 days after being assigned such petition. If the judge does not set aside the directive, the judge shall immediately affirm or affirm with modifications the directive, and order the recipient to comply with the directive in its entirety or as modified. The judge shall provide a written statement for the record of the reasons for a determination under this subparagraph.
(F) Continued effect
Any directive not explicitly modified or set aside under this paragraph shall remain in full effect.
(G) Contempt of Court
Failure to obey an order issued under this paragraph may be punished by the Court as contempt of court.
(5) Enforcement of directives
(A) Order to compel
If an electronic communication service provider fails to comply with a directive issued pursuant to paragraph (1), the Attorney General may file a petition for an order to compel the electronic communication service provider to comply with the directive with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which shall have jurisdiction to review such petition.
(B) Assignment
The presiding judge of the Court shall assign a petition filed under subparagraph (A) to 1 of the judges serving in the pool established under section 1803(e)(1) of this title not later than 24 hours after the filing of such petition.
(C) Procedures for review
A judge considering a petition filed under subparagraph (A) shall, not later than 30 days after being assigned such petition, issue an order requiring the electronic communication service provider to comply with the directive or any part of it, as issued or as modified, if the judge finds that the directive meets the requirements of this section and is otherwise lawful. The judge shall provide a written statement for the record of the reasons for a determination under this paragraph.
(D) Contempt of Court
Failure to obey an order issued under this paragraph may be punished by the Court as contempt of court.
(E) Process
Any process under this paragraph may be served in any judicial district in which the electronic communication service provider may be found.
(6) Appeal
(A) Appeal to the Court of Review
The Government or an electronic communication service provider receiving a directive issued pursuant to paragraph (1) may file a petition with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review for review of a decision issued pursuant to paragraph (4) or (5). The Court of Review shall have jurisdiction to consider such petition and shall provide a written statement for the record of the reasons for a decision under this subparagraph.
(B) Certiorari to the Supreme Court
The Government or an electronic communication service provider receiving a directive issued pursuant to paragraph (1) may file a petition for a writ of certiorari for review of a decision of the Court of Review issued under subparagraph (A). The record for such review shall be transmitted under seal to the Supreme Court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction to review such decision.
(j) Judicial review of certifications and procedures
(1) In general
(A) Review by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court shall have jurisdiction to review a certification submitted in accordance with subsection (g) 1 and the targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1), and amendments to such certification or such procedures.
(B) Time period for review
The Court shall review a certification submitted in accordance with subsection (g) 1 and the targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) and shall complete such review and issue an order under paragraph (3) not later than 30 days after the date on which such certification and such procedures are submitted.
(C) Amendments
The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may amend a certification submitted in accordance with subsection (g) 1 or the targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) as necessary at any time, including if the Court is conducting or has completed review of such certification or such procedures, and shall submit the amended certification or amended procedures to the Court not later than 7 days after amending such certification or such procedures. The Court shall review any amendment under this subparagraph under the procedures set forth in this subsection. The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may authorize the use of an amended certification or amended procedures pending the Court’s review of such amended certification or amended procedures.
(2) Review
The Court shall review the following:
(A) Certification
A certification submitted in accordance with subsection (h) to determine whether the certification contains all the required elements.
(B) Targeting procedures
The targeting procedures adopted in accordance with subsection (d) to assess whether the procedures are reasonably designed to—
(i) ensure that an acquisition authorized under subsection (a) is limited to targeting persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States; and
(ii) prevent the intentional acquisition of any communication as to which the sender and all intended recipients are known at the time of the acquisition to be located in the United States.
(C) Minimization procedures
The minimization procedures adopted in accordance with subsection (e) to assess whether such procedures meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801(h) of this title or section 1821(4) of this title, as appropriate.
(D) Querying procedures
The querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsection (f)(1) to assess whether such procedures comply with the requirements of such subsection.
(3) Orders
(A) Approval
If the Court finds that a certification submitted in accordance with subsection (h) contains all the required elements and that the targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) are consistent with the requirements of those subsections and with the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Court shall enter an order approving the certification and the use, or continued use in the case of an acquisition authorized pursuant to a determination under subsection (c)(2), of the procedures for the acquisition.
(B) Correction of deficiencies
If the Court finds that a certification submitted in accordance with subsection (h) does not contain all the required elements, or that the procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) are not consistent with the requirements of those subsections or the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Court shall issue an order directing the Government to, at the Government’s election and to the extent required by the Court’s order—
(i) correct any deficiency identified by the Court’s order not later than 30 days after the date on which the Court issues the order; or
(ii) cease, or not begin, the implementation of the authorization for which such certification was submitted.
(C) Requirement for written statement
In support of an order under this subsection, the Court shall provide, simultaneously with the order, for the record a written statement of the reasons for the order.
(D) Limitation on use of information
(i) In general
Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Court orders a correction of a deficiency in a certification or procedures under subparagraph (B), no information obtained or evidence derived pursuant to the part of the certification or procedures that has been identified by the Court as deficient concerning any United States person shall be received in evidence or otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, office, agency, regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of the United States, a State, or political subdivision thereof, and no information concerning any United States person acquired pursuant to such part of such certification or procedures shall subsequently be used or disclosed in any other manner by Federal officers or employees without the consent of the United States person, except with the approval of the Attorney General if the information indicates a threat of death or serious bodily harm to any person.
(ii) Exception
If the Government corrects any deficiency identified by the order of the Court under subparagraph (B), the Court may permit the use or disclosure of information obtained before the date of the correction under such minimization procedures as the Court may approve for purposes of this clause.
(4) Appeal
(A) Appeal to the Court of Review
The Government may file a petition with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review for review of an order under this subsection. The Court of Review shall have jurisdiction to consider such petition. For any decision under this subparagraph affirming, reversing, or modifying an order of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the Court of Review shall provide for the record a written statement of the reasons for the decision.
(B) Continuation of acquisition pending rehearing or appeal
Any acquisition affected by an order under paragraph (3)(B) may continue—
(i) during the pendency of any rehearing of the order by the Court en banc; and
(ii) if the Government files a petition for review of an order under this section, until the Court of Review enters an order under subparagraph (C).
(C) Implementation pending appeal
Not later than 60 days after the filing of a petition for review of an order under paragraph (3)(B) directing the correction of a deficiency, the Court of Review shall determine, and enter a corresponding order regarding, whether all or any part of the correction order, as issued or modified, shall be implemented during the pendency of the review.
(D) Certiorari to the Supreme Court
The Government may file a petition for a writ of certiorari for review of a decision of the Court of Review issued under subparagraph (A). The record for such review shall be transmitted under seal to the Supreme Court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction to review such decision.
(5) Schedule
(A) Reauthorization of authorizations in effect
If the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence seek to reauthorize or replace an authorization issued under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall, to the extent practicable, submit to the Court the certification prepared in accordance with subsection (h) and the procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) at least 30 days prior to the expiration of such authorization.
(B) Reauthorization of orders, authorizations, and directives
If the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence seek to reauthorize or replace an authorization issued under subsection (a) by filing a certification pursuant to subparagraph (A), that authorization, and any directives issued thereunder and any order related thereto, shall remain in effect, notwithstanding the expiration provided for in subsection (a), until the Court issues an order with respect to such certification under paragraph (3) at which time the provisions of that paragraph and paragraph (4) shall apply with respect to such certification.
(k) Judicial proceedings
(1) Expedited judicial proceedings
Judicial proceedings under this section shall be conducted as expeditiously as possible.
(2) Time limits
A time limit for a judicial decision in this section shall apply unless the Court, the Court of Review, or any judge of either the Court or the Court of Review, by order for reasons stated, extends that time as necessary for good cause in a manner consistent with national security.
(l) Maintenance and security of records and proceedings
(1) Standards
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court shall maintain a record of a proceeding under this section, including petitions, appeals, orders, and statements of reasons for a decision, under security measures adopted by the Chief Justice of the United States, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence.
(2) Filing and review
All petitions under this section shall be filed under seal. In any proceedings under this section, the Court shall, upon request of the Government, review ex parte and in camera any Government submission, or portions of a submission, which may include classified information.
(3) Retention of records
The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall retain a directive or an order issued under this section for a period of not less than 10 years from the date on which such directive or such order is issued.
(m) Assessments and reviews
(1) Semiannual assessment
Not less frequently than once every 6 months, the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence shall assess compliance with the targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) and the guidelines adopted in accordance with subsection (g) and shall submit each assessment to—
(A) the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; and
(B) consistent with the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Standing Rules of the Senate, and Senate Resolution 400 of the 94th Congress or any successor Senate resolution—
(i) the congressional intelligence committees; and
(ii) the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
(2) Agency assessment
The Inspector General of the Department of Justice and the Inspector General of each element of the intelligence community authorized to acquire foreign intelligence information under subsection (a), with respect to the department or element of such Inspector General—
(A) are authorized to review compliance with the targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1) and the guidelines adopted in accordance with subsection (g);
(B) with respect to acquisitions authorized under subsection (a), shall review the number of disseminated intelligence reports containing a reference to a United States-person identity and the number of United States-person identities subsequently disseminated by the element concerned in response to requests for identities that were not referred to by name or title in the original reporting;
(C) with respect to acquisitions authorized under subsection (a), shall review the number of targets that were later determined to be located in the United States and, to the extent possible, whether communications of such targets were reviewed; and
(D) shall provide each such review to—
(i) the Attorney General;
(ii) the Director of National Intelligence; and
(iii) consistent with the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Standing Rules of the Senate, and Senate Resolution 400 of the 94th Congress or any successor Senate resolution—
(I) the congressional intelligence committees; and
(II) the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
(3) Annual review
(A) Requirement to conduct
The head of each element of the intelligence community conducting an acquisition authorized under subsection (a) shall conduct an annual review to determine whether there is reason to believe that foreign intelligence information has been or will be obtained from the acquisition. The annual review shall provide, with respect to acquisitions authorized under subsection (a)—
(i) an accounting of the number of disseminated intelligence reports containing a reference to a United States-person identity;
(ii) an accounting of the number of United States-person identities subsequently disseminated by that element in response to requests for identities that were not referred to by name or title in the original reporting;
(iii) the number of targets that were later determined to be located in the United States and, to the extent possible, whether communications of such targets were reviewed; and
(iv) a description of any procedures developed by the head of such element of the intelligence community and approved by the Director of National Intelligence to assess, in a manner consistent with national security, operational requirements and the privacy interests of United States persons, the extent to which the acquisitions authorized under subsection (a) acquire the communications of United States persons, and the results of any such assessment.
(B) Use of review
The head of each element of the intelligence community that conducts an annual review under subparagraph (A) shall use each such review to evaluate the adequacy of the minimization procedures utilized by such element and, as appropriate, the application of the minimization procedures to a particular acquisition authorized under subsection (a).
(C) Provision of review
The head of each element of the intelligence community that conducts an annual review under subparagraph (A) shall provide such review to—
(i) the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court;
(ii) the Attorney General;
(iii) the Director of National Intelligence; and
(iv) consistent with the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Standing Rules of the Senate, and Senate Resolution 400 of the 94th Congress or any successor Senate resolution—
(I) the congressional intelligence committees; and
(II) the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
(n) Restriction on certain information available to Federal Bureau of Investigation
(1) Restriction
The Federal Bureau of Investigation may not ingest unminimized information acquired under this section into its analytic repositories unless the targeted person is relevant to an existing, open, predicated full national security investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(2) Exception for exigent circumstances
Paragraph (1) does not apply if the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation decides it is necessary due to exigent circumstances and provides notification within three business days to the congressional intelligence committees, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
(3) Exception for assistance to other agencies
Paragraph (1) does not apply where the Federal Bureau of Investigation has agreed to provide technical, analytical, or linguistic assistance at the request of another Federal agency.
(Pub. L. 95–511, title VII, § 702, as added Pub. L. 110–261, title I, § 101(a)(2), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2438; amended Pub. L. 114–23, title III, § 301, June 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 278; Pub. L. 115–118, title I, §§ 101(a)(1), (b)(1), 103, formerly 103(a), (b)(5), 104, title II, § 205(a)(6), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 4, 6, 10, 12, 13, 21, renumbered § 103, Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(2)(B), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 892; Pub. L. 118–49, §§ 2(a), (b), (d)–3, 16(a)(1), 22(a), (b)(1), 24, Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 862, 863–866, 883, 892, 893.)
heading: Repeal of Section
text: Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, § 403(b)(1), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2474, as amended by Pub. L. 112–238, § 2(a)(1), Dec. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 1631; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, § 201(a)(1), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title IX, § 7902(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 118–49, § 19(a)(1), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 119–84, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 18, 2026, 140 Stat. 770; Pub. L. 119–87, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 30, 2026, 140 Stat. 811, provided that, except as provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a note under section 1801 of this title, effective June 12, 2026, this section is repealed.
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (f)(6), (g)(1)(B), and (h)(2)(A)(iii), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 95–511, Oct. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 1783, known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.
Subsection (i), referred to in subsec. (h)(3), was redesignated subsection (j) of this section by Pub. L. 115–118, title I, § 101(a)(1)(A), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 4.
Subsection (g), referred to in subsec. (j)(1), was redesignated subsection (h) of this section by Pub. L. 115–118, title I, § 101(a)(1)(A), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 4.
Senate Resolution 400 of the 94th Congress, referred to in subsec. (l), was agreed to May 19, 1976, and was subsequently amended by both Senate resolution and public law. The Resolution, which established the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is not classified to the Code.
heading: Amendments
text: 2024—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(a), struck out “, except as provided under section 103(b) of the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017” after “subsection (a)”.
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 118–49, § 3(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) related to access to results of certain queries conducted by FBI.
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(a)(2), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (5).
Subsec. (f)(3)(B). Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(e), added subpar. (B).
Subsec. (f)(3)(C). Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(f), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (f)(3)(D). Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(d), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (f)(3)(D)(vi). Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(b), added cl. (vi).
Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 118–49, § 16(a)(1), added par. (4).
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(a)(1), redesignated par. (3) as (5).
Subsec. (f)(6). Pub. L. 118–49, § 24, added par. (6).
Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(1)(A), substituted “and reviews” for “reviews, and reporting” in heading.
Subsec. (m)(4). Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(1)(B), struck out par. (4) which related to reporting of material breach.
Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 118–49, § 3(b), added subsec. (n).
2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(A), substituted “with subsection (j)(3)” for “with subsection (i)(3)”.
Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 115–118, § 103, formerly § 103(a), as renumbered by Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(2)(B), added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6).
Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(B)(i), substituted “with subsection (h)” for “with subsection (g)”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(B)(ii), substituted “to subsection (j)(3)” for “to subsection (i)(3)”.
Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(B)(iii)(I), substituted “with subsection (h)” for “with subsection (g)”.
Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(B)(iii)(II), substituted “to subsection (j)(1)(C)” for “to subsection (i)(1)(C)” and “under subsection (j)” for “under subsection (i)”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(C), substituted “to subsection (j)” for “to subsection (i)”.
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(D), substituted “to subsection (j)” for “to subsection (i)”.
Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 115–118, § 104, added par. (3).
Subsecs. (f) to (h). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(a)(1), added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsecs. (f) and (g) as (g) and (h), respectively. Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i).
Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 115–118, § 205(a)(6), inserted “targeting” before “procedures in place” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(E)(i), substituted “with subsection (g)” for “with subsection (f)”.
Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(E)(ii), substituted “with subsection (j)(1)(C)” for “with subsection (i)(1)(C)”.
Subsec. (h)(6). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(E)(iii), substituted “to subsection (j)” for “to subsection (i)”.
Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(a)(1)(A), redesignated subsecs. (h) and (i) as (i) and (j), respectively. Former subsec. (j) redesignated (k).
Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(F)(i), substituted “targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1)” for “targeting and minimization procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d) and (e)” in subpars. (A) to (C).
Subsec. (j)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(F)(ii)(I), substituted “with subsection (h)” for “with subsection (g)”.
Subsec. (j)(2)(D). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(F)(ii)(II), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (j)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(F)(iii)(I), substituted “with subsection (h)” for “with subsection (g)” and “targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1)” for “targeting and minimization procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d) and (e)”.
Subsec. (j)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(F)(iii)(II), substituted “with subsection (h)” for “with subsection (g)” and “with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1)” for “with subsections (d) and (e)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (j)(5)(A). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(F)(iv), substituted “with subsection (h)” for “with subsection (g)” and “with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1)” for “with subsections (d) and (e)”.
Subsecs. (k), (l). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(a)(1)(A), redesignated subsecs. (j) and (k) as (k) and (l), respectively. Former subsec. (l) redesignated (m).
Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–118, § 103(b)(5)(A), substituted “reviews, and reporting” for “and reviews” in heading. Section 103(b) of Pub. L. 115–118 was struck out by Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(2)(A).
Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(a)(1)(A), redesignated subsec. (l) as (m).
Subsec. (m)(1). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(G)(i), substituted “targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1)” for “targeting and minimization procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d) and (e)” and “with subsection (g)” for “with subsection (f)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (m)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–118, § 101(b)(1)(G)(ii), substituted “targeting, minimization, and querying procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d), (e), and (f)(1)” for “targeting and minimization procedures adopted in accordance with subsections (d) and (e)” and “with subsection (g)” for “with subsection (f)”.
Subsec. (m)(4). Pub. L. 115–118, § 103(b)(5)(B), added par. (4). Section 103(b) of Pub. L. 115–118 was struck out by Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(2)(A).
2015—Subsec. (i)(3)(D). Pub. L. 114–23 added subpar. (D).
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2024 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 118–49, § 18(d)(2), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 891, provided that: “Subsection (f) of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a), as amended by this Act, shall apply with respect to certifications submitted under subsection (h) of such section to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court after January 1, 2024.”
heading: Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 115–118, title I, § 101(a)(2), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 6, provided that: “Subsection (f) of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a), as added by paragraph (1), shall apply with respect to certifications submitted under subsection (h) of such section to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court after January 1, 2018.”
heading: Effective Date of Repeal
text: Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, § 403(b)(1), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2474, as amended by Pub. L. 112–238, § 2(a)(1), Dec. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 1631; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, § 201(a)(1), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title IX, § 7902(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 118–49, § 19(a)(1), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 119–84, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 18, 2026, 140 Stat. 770; Pub. L. 119–87, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 30, 2026, 140 Stat. 811, provided that, except as provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a Transition Procedures note under section 1801 of this title, the repeals made by section 403(b)(1) are effective June 12, 2026.
heading: Mandatory Audits of United States Person Queries Conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation
text: Pub. L. 118–49, § 2(c), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 863, provided that:
“(1) Audits required.—
For each query identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a United States person query against information acquired pursuant to subsection (a) of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a) conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, not later than 180 days after the conduct of such query, the Department of Justice shall conduct an audit of such query.
“(2) Applicability.—
The requirement under paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to queries conducted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 20, 2024].
“(3) Sunset.—
This section [probably should be “subsection”] shall terminate on the earlier of the following:
“(A) The date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 20, 2024].
“(B) The date on which the Attorney General submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has implemented a process for the internal audit of all queries referred to in paragraph (1).
“(4) Appropriate congressional committees defined.—
In this section [probably should be “subsection”], the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—
“(A) the congressional intelligence committees, as such term is defined in subsection (b) of section 701 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881); and
“(B) the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate.”
heading: Targeting Decisions Under Section 702 [1881a]
text: Pub. L. 118–49, § 4, Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 867, provided that:
“(a) Sense of Congress on the Targeted Collection of United States Person Information.—
It is the sense of Congress that, as proscribed in section 702(b)(2) [50 U.S.C. 1881a(b)(2)], section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 [50 U.S.C. 1881a] has always prohibited, and continues to prohibit, the intelligence community from targeting a United States person for collection of foreign intelligence information. If the intelligence community intends to target a United States person for collection of foreign intelligence information under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 [50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.], the Government must first obtain an individualized court order based upon a finding of probable cause that the United States person is a foreign power, an agent of a foreign power, or an officer or employee of a foreign power, in order to conduct surveillance targeting that United States person.
“(b) Annual Audit of Targeting Decisions Under Section 702.—
“(1) Mandatory review.—
Not less frequently than annually, the Department of Justice National Security Division shall review each person targeted under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 in the preceding year to ensure that the purpose of each targeting decision is not to target a known United States person. The results of this review shall be submitted to the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, the congressional intelligence committees, and the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, subject to a declassification review.
“(2) Inspector general audit.—
Not less frequently than annually, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General shall audit a sampling of the targeting decisions reviewed by the National Security Division under paragraph (1) and submit a report to the congressional intelligence committees and the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate.
“(3) Certification.—
Within 180 days of enactment of this Act [Apr. 20, 2024], and annually thereafter, each agency authorized to target non-United States persons under section 702 shall certify to Congress that the purpose of each targeting decision made in the prior year was not to target a known United States person.
“(4) Application.—
The requirements under this subsection apply for any year to the extent that section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 was in effect during any portion of the previous year.”
heading: Minimum Accountability Standards
text: Pub. L. 118–49, § 16(a)(2), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 883, provided that: “Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 20, 2024], the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall issue the minimum accountability standards required under subsection (f)(4) of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a[(f)(4)]).”
heading: Notification to Congress of Certain Unauthorized Disclosures
text: Pub. L. 118–49, § 18(a), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 884, provided that: “If the Director of National Intelligence becomes aware of an actual or potential significant unauthorized disclosure or compromise of information acquired under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a), as soon as practicable, but not later than 7 days after the date on which the Director becomes so aware, the Director shall notify the congressional intelligence committees of such actual or potential disclosure or compromise.”
heading: Requirement for Recertification
text: Pub. L. 118–49, § 21, Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 892, provided that: “Notwithstanding any orders or authorizations issued or made under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a) during the period beginning on January 1, 2024 and ending on April 30, 2024, no later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 20, 2024], the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall be required to seek new orders consistent with the provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 [50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.], as amended by this Act, and thereafter to issue new authorizations consistent with such new orders.”
heading: Congressional Review and Oversight of Abouts Collection
text: Pub. L. 115–118, title I, § 103(b), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 10, which required the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence to provide written notice to Congress of the intent to implement authorization of the intentional acquisition of abouts communication and provided for a 30-day congressional review period and exception for emergency acquisition, was repealed by Pub. L. 118–49, § 22(b)(2)(A), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 892.