EPIC Endorses Bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act to Rein in Runaway Warrantless Surveillance 

This week, Senators Ron Wyden and Mike Lee, along with Representatives Warren Davidson and Zoe Lofgren, introduced the updated Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA) to protect Americans’ rights and tamp down on warrantless government surveillance. The bicameral, bipartisan bill is part of broader efforts to reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is up for reauthorization this year. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Cynthia Lummis, Representative Sara Jacobs, and Representative Pramila Jayapal cosponsored the bill.  

The GSRA incorporates some key reforms that EPIC has called for alongside a broad, bipartisan coalition of civil society groups, including:  

• Requiring a warrant before searching Americans’ communications that were collected without a warrant under Section 702;  

• Closing the data broker loophole that the federal government exploits to warrantlessly access information protected by the Fourth Amendment, including location and internet browsing data; and  

• Bolstering oversight and accountability through the courts, public reporting, and installing accountability requirements in FISA. 

“The Government Surveillance Reform Act includes critical protections for our privacy and our data in an increasingly vulnerable digital world. As technology advances, so too must our laws to ensure that we secure the values enshrined in our Constitution,” said Jeramie D. Scott, EPIC Senior Counsel and Director of the Surveillance Oversight Program. “Our spy agencies should not turn warrantless surveillance systems inward to invade Americans’ communications, and they shouldn’t sidestep the Fourth Amendment by purchasing our sensitive information form data brokers. Our values and our Constitution demand our privacy and civil liberties be protected, and EPIC is proud to support a bill that does just that.”  

EPIC has been a loud advocate for FISA 702 reform, including endorsing the former version of the GSRA in 2023 and leading the campaign FISA Section 702: Reform or Sunset. We continue fighting for significant FISA reforms ahead of its potential reauthorization this year. Want to help?