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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,<ref>being an "agent of a foreign power," member of a terrorist organization or drug cartel, illegal weapons smuggler, acting against the national security interests of the United States for example.</ref> an American citizen and his or her entire network of contacts, and your contacts' contacts, can be striped of your constitutional rights of due process, right to counsel, and the right to face your accusers by a court, meeting in secret, without you ever being notified what has happened.

Under FISA, if the government makes certain allegations,<ref>being an "agent of a foreign power," member of a terrorist organization or drug cartel, illegal weapons smuggler, acting against the national security interests of the United States for example.</ref> an American citizen and his or her entire network of personal and electronic contacts, and your contacts' contacts, can be striped of your constitutional rights of due process, right to counsel, and the right to face your accusers by a court, meeting in secret, without you ever being notified what has happened.

Former U.S. Attorney and ''[[National Review]]'' journalist  covering [[national security]] Andrew McCarthy writes {{quotebox|FISA authorities are not criminal-ulaw 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-ulaw 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>}}