Americans should be able to ask for prayer, seek counsel from a pastor, or send a private message to a loved one with the expectation that those conversations will remain private. In a free country, that trust should not depend on the discretion of the government.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is an important national security tool. It allows our intelligence agencies to monitor foreign threats overseas and identify plots before they reach American soil. But a law written to monitor foreign threats should never become a loophole for searching Americans’ private communications without a warrant. 

One of the core concerns lies in the vastly expanded definition of “electronic communication service provider.” For years, the term generally referred to traditional communication providers, such as internet service providers and phone companies. But during the 2024 extension of FISA, intelligence officials sought cooperation from one specific company that they believed was outside the existing definition. Rather than adopt a narrow fix, Congress approved broader language that expanded who could be compelled to assist with surveillance collection.