Security News > 2020 > May > Senate Narrowly Rejects New Limits on Internet Surveillance
The Senate came one vote short Wednesday of approving a proposal to prevent federal law enforcement from obtaining internet browsing information or search history without seeking a warrant.
The amendment vote came as the Senate considered renewal of three surveillance provisions that expired in March before Congress left due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Senate did adopt a amendment by Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont that would boost third-party oversight to protect individuals in some surveillance cases.
A third amendment by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who is a longtime skeptic of surveillance programs, is expected to be considered Thursday before a final vote.
The expired provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allow the FBI to get a court order for business records in national security investigations, to conduct surveillance on a subject without establishing that they're acting on behalf of an international terrorism organization and to more easily continue eavesdropping on a subject who has switched cell phone providers to thwart detection.