The surveillance authorities contained in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act are set to expire on December 31, 2023, unless Congress acts to renew them. Long regarded by the U.S. government as an indispensable national security tool necessary for averting threats posed by foreign terrorists and other external actors, the law has also long been criticized by rights advocates as unduly infringing on the privacy rights of Americans, among other concerns. As the sunset of Section 702 fast approaches, unlikely political alliances have emerged on Capitol Hill, and the Biden administration has continued its appeals for reauthorization.

In this virtual discussion, a panel of leading experts wi th diverse perspectives examined the current state of play with respect to proposed legislation and the prospects for reauthorization; areas of likely or imaginable compromise; how U.S. national security and individual privacy could be impacted by various proposals; and what might lie ahead for the future of 702.