FISA and Big Data Technologies

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act establishes the authority of federal agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA to spy on international targets. Big data technology creates tremendous power for effective intelligence, and is critical to maintain strategic advantage geopolitcally. US citizens today worry that the authorities established under FISA are too broad, and that its court system, intelligence officials, and agents are not subject to proper scrutiny. Officials in the intelligence community argue that secrecy is critical to the effectiveness of the programs, and that internal regulations are followed and respected throughout the process. They also point out that these systems are used only on foreign targets of value - not against US citizens.