On Friday Donald Trump signed into law a bill that renews a series of questionable surveillance programs that politicians and commentators have labelled a gross intrusion of privacy.

The re-authorisation of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), allows American intelligence agencies to embark on extensive surveillance programmes, which includes the interception of digital traffic at home and abroad.

Confusion

In a quintessential Trump administration style, the run up to Friday seen a series of bizarre tweets from the President. Tweets that left many confused and unsure of his position on the renewal of Section 702.

President Trump had appeared to derail the Republicans’ attempts to push through an extension of this law after he posted a series of blistering tweets that alleged the Obama Administration had used FISA operations to spy on his election campaign.

The President then swiftly redacted his statement, reiterating the need for the extension and highlighting that it was not the same law that had been ‘abused’ during his 2016 election campaign.

Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018

Conspiracy

President Trump has long been vocal in his belief that the Obama Administration – along with members of the FBI and intelligence services – had been illegally monitoring the communications of his campaign.

In another bizarre turn of events some hours before the President signed off on the FISA extension, a confidential memo released by the Senate Intelligence Committee alleges that this could have been a reality.

These allegations point toward the FBI using laws to monitor the communications of key Trump campaign staff – some of whom were believed to be in contact with Russian assets.

The dossier has not been made public, however Republican representatives who claim to have seen it have made statements on social media.

Republican Congressman, Steve King, tweeted:

I have read the memo. The sickening reality has set in. I no longer hold out hope there is an innocent explanation for the information the public has seen. I have long said it is worse than Watergate. It was #neverTrump & #alwaysHillary. #releasethememo

— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) January 21, 2018

Bi-Partisan Objection

The extension of this law (which is renewed every six years) essentially allows American authorities to conduct mass surveillance programmes on foreign assets – regardless of whether they are based in the United States or abroad.

This aspect of NSA operations has been heavily criticised both at home and abroad, and there have been concerns raised over American citizens potentially being subject to illegal, warrant-less spying operations.

In addition to this, it has been highlighted by privacy rights groups that American citizens could inadvertently have personal information drawn into government spying operations.

In the wake of the Edward Snowden leaks regarding American spy operations – leaks that brought the subject to the forefront of discussion in Washington – US lawmakers have been weary on how future legislation is perceived by the public and media.

Republican Speaker, Paul Ryan, sought to calm media attention around the renewal while the bill was debated in the House of Representatives, as well as insisting on the importance the renewal.

“We don’t know what the terrorists are up to. 

“We can’t send that information to our authorities to prevent terrorist attacks. The consequences are really high.”

Representatives from both sides of the political spectrum in Washington came together in the days preceding the renewal to insist on reform, with Senator Rand Paul claiming it was a gross intrusion of privacy and personal liberty.

No American should have their right to privacy taken away! #FILIBUSTER

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 11, 2018

The renewal was met with excitement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, however, stating:

“[This bill is] crucial to allowing us to continue to gather intelligence on foreign terrorists overseas and foil potential plots against Americans abroad and at home.”