Congress still can’t decide what to do about warrantless surveillance

Congress is nearing a June 12 deadline to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after approving only a 45-day extension in April. A Senate vote on a renewal deal failed 52 to 47, and reform advocates say privacy-focused lawmakers were excluded from negotiations.

The stalemate reflects a recurring split between national security priorities and civil liberties concerns over warrantless surveillance. If lawmakers cannot agree, the uncertainty could force either another short-term extension or a more consequential debate over surveillance reform.

The deadline to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is coming up a week from now on June 12th, and legislators seem no closer to reaching a deal. If this sounds like deja vu, it's because we've been here before. Congress reauthorized Section 702 in late April - but only for 45 days, so lawmakers could negotiate reforms to the controversial wiretapping authority. "There were no reformers in any of the conversations that happened. Full stop," Sean Vitka, the executive director of Demand Progress, said on a press call Friday afternoon, hours after the Senate voted 52 to 47 against a deal that would have renewed … Read the full story at The Verge.