The Way the NSA Uses Section 702 is Deeply Troubling. Heres Why.Nadia Kayyali In fact, the managers amendment to the USA FREEDOM Act, which passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee, has weakened the minimal changes to Section 702 that USA FREEDOM originally offered. Although Representative Zoe Lofgrenwho clearly understands the import of Section 702offered several very good amendments that would have addressed these gaps, her amendments were all voted down. Theres still a chance thoughas this bill moves through Congress it can be strengthened by amendments from the floor. Section 702 has been used by the NSA to justify mass collection of phone calls and emails by collecting huge quantities of data directly from the physical infrastructure of communications providers. Heres what you should know about the provision and why it needs to be addressed by Congress and the President: The omission of Section 702 reform from the discourse around NSA surveillance is incredibly concerning, because this provision has been used to justify some of the most invasive NSA surveillance. Thats why EFF continues to push for real reform of NSA surveillance that includes an end to Section 702 collection. You can help by educating yourself and engaging your elected representatives. Print out our handy one-page explanation of Section 702. Contact your members of Congress today and tell them you want to see an end to all dragnet surveillance, not just bulk collection of phone records. Please visit and support the Electronic Frontier Foundation to help defend digital privacy. 