50 USC 1881c - Other acquisitions targeting United States persons outside the United States

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 1881c.

Other acquisitions targeting United States persons outside the United States

(a)

Jurisdiction and scope

(1)

Jurisdiction

(2)

Scope

(3)

Limitations

(A)

Moving or misidentified targets

(B)

Applicability

(C)

Construction

(b)

Application

Each application for an order under this section shall be made by a Federal officer in writing upon oath or affirmation to a judge having jurisdiction under subsection (a)(1). Each application shall require the approval of the Attorney General based upon the Attorney General’s finding that it satisfies the criteria and requirements of such application as set forth in this section and shall include—

(1)

the identity of the Federal officer making the application;

(2)

the identity, if known, or a description of the specific United States person who is the target of the acquisition;

(3)

a sworn statement of the facts and circumstances relied upon to justify the applicant’s belief that the United States person who is the target of the acquisition is—

(A)

a person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States; and

(B)

a foreign power, an agent of a foreign power, or an officer or employee of a foreign power;

(4)

a statement of proposed minimization procedures that meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801(h) or 1821(4) of this title, as appropriate;

(5)

a certification made by the Attorney General, an official specified in section 1804(a)(6) of this title, or the head of an element of the intelligence community that—

(A)

the certifying official deems the information sought to be foreign intelligence information; and

(B)

a significant purpose of the acquisition is to obtain foreign intelligence information;

(6)

a statement of the facts concerning any previous applications that have been made to any judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court involving the United States person specified in the application and the action taken on each previous application;

(7)

a statement of the period of time for which the acquisition is required to be maintained, provided that such period of time shall not exceed 90 days per application;

(8)

(A)

call into question the accuracy of the application or the reasonableness of any assessment in the application conducted by the department or agency on whose behalf the application is made; or

(B)

otherwise raise doubts with respect to the findings required under subsection (c); and

(9)

non-cumulative information known to the applicant or declarant that is potentially exculpatory regarding the requested legal findings or any assessment in the application.

(c)

Order

(1)

Findings

Upon an application made pursuant to subsection (b), the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court shall enter an ex parte order as requested or as modified by the Court if the Court finds that—

(A)

the application has been made by a Federal officer and approved by the Attorney General;

(B)

on the basis of the facts submitted by the applicant, for the United States person who is the target of the acquisition, there is probable cause to believe that the target is—

(i)

a person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States; and

(ii)

a foreign power, an agent of a foreign power, or an officer or employee of a foreign power;

(C)

the proposed minimization procedures, with respect to their dissemination provisions, meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801(h) or 1821(4) of this title, as appropriate; and

(D)

the application that has been filed contains all statements and certifications required by subsection (b) and the certification provided under subsection (b)(5) is not clearly erroneous on the basis of the information furnished under subsection (b).

(2)

Probable cause

(3)

Review

(A)

Limitations on review

(B)

Review of probable cause

(C)

Review of minimization procedures

(D)

Scope of review of certification

(4)

Duration

(5)

Compliance

(d)

Emergency authorization

(1)

Authority for emergency authorization

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the Attorney General reasonably determines that—

(A)

an emergency situation exists with respect to the acquisition of foreign intelligence information for which an order may be obtained under subsection (c) before an order under that subsection can, with due diligence, be obtained, and

(B)

the factual basis for the issuance of an order under this section exists,

the Attorney General may authorize the emergency acquisition if a judge having jurisdiction under subsection (a)(1) is informed by the Attorney General or a designee of the Attorney General at the time of such authorization that the decision has been made to conduct such acquisition and if an application in accordance with this section is made to a judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court as soon as practicable, but not more than 7 days after the Attorney General authorizes such acquisition.

(2)

Minimization procedures

(3)

Termination of emergency authorization

(4)

Use of information

(e)

Appeal

(1)

Appeal to the Court of Review

(2)

Certiorari to the Supreme Court

(Pub. L. 95–511, title VII, § 704, as added Pub. L. 110–261, title I, § 101(a)(2), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2453; amended Pub. L. 118–49, §§ 6(a)(4), 10(a)(5)(B), (b)(5)(B), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 870, 876, 878.)

cite as: 50 USC 1881c