Sens introduce surveillance reform bill

A group of 11 Sens unveiled a proposal to substantially reform the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance program, potentially complicating renewal efforts underway in both chambers. The proposal, led by Sens Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), would require investigators to obtain a warrant to query data belonging to Americans collected under the program. It would reauthorize the program for four years, but would add a compendium of other privacy and oversight protections to the existing framework.

Libertarian-leaning Sen Paul is the only Republican to sign onto the proposal. It’s unclear how many changes the group will be able to force to the controversial program, seen by federal investigators as one of the most vital tools the U.S. has to identify and disrupt terror plots. The law authorizing the program, known as Section 702, is due to sunset at the end of 2017.