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Federal Surveillance Reform: Achievements and Unfinished Business

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Featuring
Sean Vitka
Sean Vitka

Policy Director, Demand Progress

Liza Goitein
Liza Goitein

Senior Director of the Liberty and National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice

David Aaron portrait
David Aaron

Former DOJ National Security Attorney

Earlier this year, Congress reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two years. The final bill included provisions sought by civil liberties advocates, but some critical reforms didn’t make it into the final version. Moreover, that same bill also included a potentially radical expansion of the number of entities that could have their communications traffic swept up under 702. Additionally, Congress has thus far not legislatively addressed several other surveillance abuses and controversies, including those involving new or emerging technologies.

What is the actual track record of the Section 702 program, both in terms of constitutional rights violations and successes in the foreign intelligence field? What other federal surveillance programs and authorities need revision or revocation? What role do technology companies play in facilitating government surveillance? What has been the impact on America’s Fourth Amendment and related constitutional rights of federal court decisions involving federal surveillance? The panel will cover all these developments.

This event is part of the 2024 Cato Surveillance Week series:

October 7, 2024

Federal Surveillance Reform: Achievements and Unfinished Business

Earlier this year, Congress reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two years. The final bill included provisions sought by civil liberties advocates, but some critical reforms didn’t make it into the final version.

October 8, 2024

In the four years since nationwide protests against police misconduct rocked the nation, momentum for police reform has stalled.

October 10, 2024

Government Surveillance and Journalism: The Threat Landscape

Journalists have been the targets of government surveillance, harassment, and violence for over a century—both in America and abroad.

December 6, 2024 (rescheduled from October 9)

Human vs. Machine: The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence in the Law Enforcement Context

The development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) software for a range of applications has sparked intense debate over its implications for privacy and surveillance in multiple contexts.