Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), leading the Congressional Progressive Caucus, pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray about the Bureau's handling of American citizens' personal information during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Jayapal voiced concerns regarding potential challenges in reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless the FBI could guarantee the protection of Americans' privacy.
Referencing Wray's prior Senate testimony where he stated the FBI does not purchase commercial data on U.S. citizens, Jayapal confronted him with a declassified ODNI report suggesting otherwise. She questioned Wray about the FBI's data usage practices, particularly concerning location data. Wray offered to provide a detailed briefing from subject-matter experts, citing the complexity and potential for misunderstanding surrounding the issue.
Wray maintained his position, stating his testimony remained consistent despite the ODNI report. Jayapal pressed further, emphasizing the public's need to understand how their data, including location, biometric, medical, and internet activity information, is utilized by the FBI. She inquired about written policies guiding the FBI's purchase and use of commercially available data, as well as the Bureau's interpretation of a Supreme Court ruling regarding warrantless access to historical location data. Wray reiterated his offer of a comprehensive briefing.
Jayapal stressed the significance of transparency in these matters for successful FISA reauthorization, highlighting bipartisan concerns. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) commended Jayapal's line of questioning. The exchange underscores the growing debate surrounding government surveillance and citizen privacy, particularly in the context of FISA reauthorization, with several House Republicans advocating against renewal.
This clash over data collection practices and the need for greater transparency highlights the increasing tension between national security imperatives and individual privacy rights.
