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The '''Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act''' (FISA) of 1978 with amendments is a post-[[Watergate]] era reform which was intended to prescribe procedures for granting quasi-[[judicial]] authorization for electronic surveillance of persons engaged in [[espionage]], [[terrorism]], weapons or narcotics trafficking. Critics have raised serious questions regarding the protection of Americans' [[4th Amendment]] rights – the right to be secure in your person and effects – in relation to the law.

The '''Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act''' (FISA) of 1978 with amendments is a post-[[Watergate]] era reform which was intended to prescribe procedures for granting quasi-[[judicial]] authorization for electronic surveillance of persons engaged in [[espionage]], [[terrorism]], weapons or narcotics trafficking. Critics have raised serious questions regarding the protection of Americans' [[4th Amendment]] rights – the right to be secure in your person and effects – in relation to the law.

Under FISA, if the government makes certain allegations, an American citizen and his or her entire network of contacts can be striped of their constitutional rights to due process, right to counsel, and the right to face their accusers by a court meeting in secret.

Under FISA, if the government makes certain allegations, an American citizen and his or her entire network of contacts, and their contacts' contacts, can be striped of their constitutional rights of due process, right to counsel, and the right to face your accusers by a court meeting in secret.

Former U.S. Attorney and ''[[National Review]]'' journalist  covering [[national security]] Andrew McCarthy writes {{quotebox|FISA authorities are not criminal-law authorities. It is not just that FISA is not designed to ferret out evidence of crime; it is not permitted to be used for that purpose. FISA’s objective is the collection of foreign intelligence, the gathering of information about the actions and intentions of foreign powers that may threaten American interests.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/trump-russia-probe-fbi-fisa-application/</ref>}}

Former U.S. Attorney and ''[[National Review]]'' journalist  covering [[national security]] Andrew McCarthy writes {{quotebox|FISA authorities are not criminal-law authorities. It is not just that FISA is not designed to ferret out evidence of crime; it is not permitted to be used for that purpose. FISA’s objective is the collection of foreign intelligence, the gathering of information about the actions and intentions of foreign powers that may threaten American interests.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/trump-russia-probe-fbi-fisa-application/</ref>}}