Senate BillS 3893Armed Forces and National Security
SAFE Act
INTRO FEB 23· LAST ACTION FEB 23
READING
85MIN
COSPONSORS
7BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
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Voters should care about this bill because it directly addresses the balance between national security and personal privacy. In recent years, concerns have been raised about how effectively the government protects the privacy of U.S. persons when using powerful surveillance tools like Section 702 of FISA.
If this bill becomes law, it would introduce more checks and balances on government surveillance, potentially reducing the risk of abuse and increasing accountability. If it doesn't pass, current rules for searching U.S. person data and for government agencies buying data from commercial brokers might remain less restrictive, continuing the debate over whether individual liberties are adequately protected in the digital age.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Requires the Department of Justice to conduct mandatory audits every six months on how the FBI queries data collected under Section 702 of FISA, and submit unredacted results to Congress.
This provision increases oversight and accountability for how the FBI accesses information of U.S. persons that may be incidentally collected.
PROVISION 02
Mandates prior approval from an FBI attorney before agents can query collected data using terms reasonably believed to identify specific sensitive U.S. persons, such as elected officials, journalists, or judges.
This adds a layer of legal review to protect the privacy of high-profile or politically sensitive U.S. persons from unwarranted searches.
PROVISION 03
Prohibits 'reverse targeting,' meaning the government cannot intentionally use Section 702 to collect information on a U.S. person by targeting a foreign intelligence target they are communicating with.
This directly addresses a concern that Section 702 could be used to sidestep warrant requirements for surveilling U.S. persons.
PROVISION 04
Limits the ability of intelligence and law enforcement agencies to purchase sensitive personal data from commercial data brokers concerning U.S. persons, requiring consistent privacy protections.
This aims to close a perceived loophole where government agencies could bypass surveillance laws by simply buying data that would otherwise require a warrant.
PROVISION 05
Extends Title VII of FISA, which includes Section 702, and specifies expiration dates for certain FISA authorities.
This reauthorizes a key foreign intelligence surveillance program while simultaneously setting a timeframe for its review and potential sunset.
Voters should care about this bill because it directly addresses the balance between national security and personal privacy. In recent years, concerns have been raised about how effectively the government protects the privacy of U.S. persons when using powerful surveillance tools like Section 702 of FISA.
If this bill becomes law, it would introduce more checks and balances on government surveillance, potentially reducing the risk of abuse and increasing accountability. If it doesn't pass, current rules for searching U.S. person data and for government agencies buying data from commercial brokers might remain less restrictive, continuing the debate over whether individual liberties are adequately protected in the digital age.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires the Department of Justice to conduct mandatory audits every six months on how the FBI queries data collected under Section 702 of FISA, and submit unredacted results to Congress.
This provision increases oversight and accountability for how the FBI accesses information of U.S. persons that may be incidentally collected.
high
Mandates prior approval from an FBI attorney before agents can query collected data using terms reasonably believed to identify specific sensitive U.S. persons, such as elected officials, journalists, or judges.
This adds a layer of legal review to protect the privacy of high-profile or politically sensitive U.S. persons from unwarranted searches.
high
Prohibits 'reverse targeting,' meaning the government cannot intentionally use Section 702 to collect information on a U.S. person by targeting a foreign intelligence target they are communicating with.
This directly addresses a concern that Section 702 could be used to sidestep warrant requirements for surveilling U.S. persons.
med
Limits the ability of intelligence and law enforcement agencies to purchase sensitive personal data from commercial data brokers concerning U.S. persons, requiring consistent privacy protections.
This aims to close a perceived loophole where government agencies could bypass surveillance laws by simply buying data that would otherwise require a warrant.
med
Extends Title VII of FISA, which includes Section 702, and specifies expiration dates for certain FISA authorities.
This reauthorizes a key foreign intelligence surveillance program while simultaneously setting a timeframe for its review and potential sunset.
Not later than 90 days after the end of each 180-day period
Department of Justice must complete an audit of FBI queries conducted during each 180-day period.
Not later than 30 days after completing each audit
Department of Justice must submit complete and unredacted audit results to Congress.
Not later than 127 days after the end of the 180-day period to which the audit relates
Department of Justice must conduct an in-person briefing with Congress if an audit is not completed and sent on time.
GLOSSARY
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Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA)
A federal law that sets out procedures for physical and electronic surveillance and collection of foreign intelligence information between foreign powers and agents of foreign powers.
Section 702
A specific provision of FISA that allows the government to collect the communications of non-U.S. persons located outside the United States for foreign intelligence purposes, often through U.S. telecommunications providers.
U.S. Person
A U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or a corporation or association incorporated or organized in the United States.
Query (of collected data)
Searching through data that has already been collected under surveillance authorities, often using specific search terms to find relevant information.
Electronic Communication Service Provider
Companies that provide electronic communication services, such as internet service providers, email providers, or cloud storage companies.
Reverse Targeting
An illegal practice where the government intentionally targets a foreign person under Section 702, not for their foreign intelligence value, but to indirectly collect the communications of a U.S. person they are communicating with.
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
FEB 23
Introduced in Senate
INTROREFERRAL
FEB 23
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Companies that collect and sell personal information about individuals, often aggregated from various sources, to other companies or government agencies.
