What is Fisa, and what does it mean for no-warrant espionage

Donald Trump got it wrong in telling House Freedom Caucus to vote against continuing the Foreign Intelligence Service Act Section 702. Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless communications collection for targets abroad, like Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis.

Congress reauthorized section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Section 702 is part of the act that allows no-warrant spying in the U.S. Congress voted to reauthorize section 702 on Friday. The bill is the latest in a series of attempts to change the law's definition of spying.

A Republican rift is jeopardizing extension of a cornerstone of the US intelligence gathering by which the government hoovers up massive amounts of internet and cellphone data. Analysis: What information is the government actually collecting under FISA? Analysis: The government is collecting huge amounts of data.

FISA's main purpose was to provide oversight for foreign intelligence surveillance activities. FISA was established in 1978 to monitor foreign intelligence activities in the United States. The court is now known as the FISA court, which oversees surveillance of foreign intelligence agencies. FISA is a federal court that oversees foreign intelligence operations.