US: Trump signs extension of surveillance programme until 30 April

Washington (US), 18 Apr. (LaPresse/AP) – US President Donald Trump has signed a bill extending a controversial surveillance programme until 30 April. The bill was passed yesterday by the Senate in a race against time to prevent the authorisation from expiring within a few days. Trump and Republican leaders pushed for its renewal, calling it a matter of national security. Critics are concerned about its impact on civil liberties. At the heart of the debate is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the CIA, the National Security Agency, the FBI and other agencies to collect and analyse vast amounts of communications from abroad without a warrant. In doing so, they may incidentally intercept communications involving American citizens interacting with foreign entities.