{"id":51415,"date":"2023-12-08T18:32:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T18:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/12\/08\/cyber-commands-nakasone-urges-renewal-of-foreign-spy-law\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:41:59","slug":"cyber-commands-nakasone-urges-renewal-of-foreign-spy-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2023\/12\/08\/cyber-commands-nakasone-urges-renewal-of-foreign-spy-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyber Command\u2019s Nakasone urges renewal of foreign spy law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The leader of U.S. Cyber Command urged Congress to renew a contentious foreign spy program as lawmakers debate its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, who also heads the National Security Agency, on Dec. 8 described Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act<\/a> as \u201cthe most important authority that we utilize day in, day out.\u201d A lapse, he said at an Intelligence and National Security Alliance event here, would be disastrous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Section 702 allows the government to collect and review communications like emails and text messages of foreigners abroad, including when they are in touch with Americans. The power is set to expire at the end of the month, following renewal in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden administration<\/a> is pushing for reauthorization while also battling criticism from groups that say it is ripe for abuse and amounts to a warrantless dragnet. Nakasone rejected the criticisms Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the director of the National Security Agency, I will tell you that our focus is not only national security. It\u2019s also the protection of our civil liberties and privacy,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is an authority with oversight and transparency that allows both of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t