Section 702, the Five Eyes Alliance, and the Patriot Act are three interconnected concepts in the world of international surveillance and intelligence sharing. To understand the complexities of global security and espionage in the 21st century, it’s crucial to grasp the role and interplay of these three elements.

Section 702 is a crucial part of the 2008 amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that permits the U.S. government to carry out targeted surveillance on foreign individuals who are not in the U.S. to gather foreign intelligence information. This surveillance is done with the help of electronic communication service providers. The provision, which is a component of the 1978 FISA in the U.S., as altered by the 2008 FISA Amendments Act, empowers the National Security Agency (NSA) to perform warrantless surveillance on non-U.S. citizens who are outside the U.S. It serves as a key legal basis for U.S. worldwide surveillance operations.

https://www.myprivacy.blog/net-neutrality-internet-bill-of-rights-and-the-patriot-act-the-intersection-of-privacy-security-and-freedom/

Under Section 702, the U.S. Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence may authorize the surveillance of non-U.S. persons to acquire foreign intelligence information. This surveillance can only be used to target non-U.S. citizens living outside the U.S., and any collection of a U.S. citizen’s data is referred to as “incidental.”

Despite the restrictions, Section 702 has faced criticism due to concerns about privacy rights and potential misuse of data. Critics argue that it allows for “backdoor” searches of U.S. citizens’ communications.

The intelligence collection under Section 702 is targeted and specific. It is not a bulk collection program. Every targeting decision is individualized, documented, and approved through a multi-step process. The program is subject to extensive oversight, including approval from the Attorney General for targeting, minimization, and querying procedures[2].

Section 702 only permits the targeting of non-U.S. persons who are reasonably believed to be located outside the U.S. It prohibits the targeting of U.S. persons or anyone in the U.S., as well as “reverse targeting,” which is targeting a non-U.S. person outside the U.S. with the purpose of collecting information about a U.S. person or anyone located in the U.S[2].

However, it’s important to note that while the law is written to target foreign intelligence, it can inherently and intentionally sweep in Americans’ communications. This is due to the nature of global communication networks and the methods used for data collection[4].

The Five Eyes Alliance is an intelligence-sharing arrangement between five English-speaking countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This alliance originated as a post-WWII cooperation between the U.S. and the UK, later expanded to include the other three nations.

The Five Eyes Alliance operates based on mutual cooperation, trust, and sharing of intelligence. It’s considered one of the most comprehensive known espionage alliances in history.

Section 702 plays a crucial role within this Alliance, as it provides a legal basis for the U.S. to share surveillance data with its allies. The intelligence gathered under Section 702 can be shared freely among the Five Eyes members, contributing to a global surveillance effort.

The law requires specific procedures to minimize the acquisition, retention, and sharing of any information concerning U.S. persons[2]. Despite these safeguards, there have been instances where the FBI improperly provided access to Section 702 data to unauthorized individuals, and violations of court-approved rules designed to protect rights have occurred[5].

Section 702 has been used in various ways to protect national security. For example, it has been used to identify attempts to recruit human spies in the U.S. and to counter threats from foreign adversaries[6].

https://www.compliancehub.wiki/section-702-ndaa/

The Patriot Act, officially known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, was signed into U.S. law following the September 11 terrorist attacks. It granted increased powers to U.S. law enforcement agencies to gather intelligence within the United States and abroad.

While Section 702 and the Patriot Act are separate laws, they are related in their shared goal of protecting national security through intelligence gathering. The Patriot Act enhances domestic security through increased data collection and surveillance powers, while Section 702 provides similar capabilities on an international scale.

The law is not permanent and requires renewal by Congress every few years. It was last renewed in 2018 and is set to expire at the end of 2023[4].

https://www.myprivacy.blog/section-702-and-its-alignment-with-the-five-eyes-nine-eyes-and-fourteen-eyes-alliances/

Section 702, the Five Eyes Alliance, and the Patriot Act form a complex web of international surveillance and intelligence sharing aimed at maintaining global security. While they are essential tools in the fight against terrorism and other threats, they also raise important questions about privacy and personal freedoms. As technology continues to advance, striking a balance between security and individual rights will be an ongoing challenge.

Citations:
[1] https://www.dni.gov/files/icotr/Section702-Basics-Infographic.pdf
[2] https://www.intel.gov/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act/1237-fisa-section-702
[3] https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/how-we-investigate/intelligence/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-fisa-and-section-702
[4] https://www.eff.org/702-spying
[5] https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/14/q-us-warrantless-surveillance-under-section-702-foreign-intelligence-surveillance
[6] https://www.csis.org/analysis/reforming-section-702-foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act-digital-landscape
[7] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-110hr6304pcs/html/BILLS-110hr6304pcs.htm