MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The US National Security Agency (NSA) is currently conducting surveillance on over 100,000 foreign nationals outside the country in accordance with the so-called Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, media reported, citing senior US officials.
According to the CNN broadcaster, Section 702 has repeatedly helped the US intelligence community to detect cybersecurity threats, prevent cyberattacks, and disrupt Daesh terror plots (outlawed in Russia). An official told the broadcaster about two examples in which Section 702 had helped to disrupt terror plots.
Meanwhile, section 702, adopted in 2008, authorizes the intelligence community to target the communications of non-US citizens located outside the United States for foreign intelligence purposes. It is widely criticized by some congressmen and foreign governments. The statute will expire in December if it is not reauthorized by Congress.
