FBI Searches of Americans' Data Under FISA 702 Increased by 35% in 2025

The FBI reported a 35% increase in searches of U.S. person data collected under Section 702 of FISA, rising from 5,518 in December 2024 to 7,413 in November 2025. This data collection allows the FBI and NSA to access communications of foreigners, which can incidentally include Americans. The drop in queries returning useful information from 38% in 2024 to 28% in 2025 raises concerns among civil liberties advocates. The authority under which these searches are conducted is set to expire in April 2026 unless renewed by Congress. The Trump administration is advocating for a clean reauthorization of Section 702. Civil liberties groups are likely to be disappointed by the increase in searches, as they have long called for a warrant requirement for accessing U.S. person data. The FBI's letter to Congress was sent to key lawmakers, highlighting the ongoing debate over surveillance practices.

Key Points: • FBI searches of U.S. person data under FISA 702 rose from 5,518 to 7,413 in 2025. • The percentage of queries returning useful information dropped from 38% to 28% in the same period. • Section 702 is set to expire in April 2026 unless Congress acts to renew it.