The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, also known as FISC, is a United States federal court responsible for reviewing and adjudicating requests for surveillance warrants against foreign intelligence targets. The spelling of "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court" can be broken down into phonetic transcription as /ˈfɔːrɪn ˌɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns sɜrvələns kɔːrt/. The phonemes used in the transcription represent the individual sounds that make up the word in English pronunciation. This court has come under scrutiny in recent years for violations of citizens' privacy rights.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) is a specialized court established in the United States to oversee and review requests for electronic surveillance and collection of foreign intelligence information. Created under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 1978, the FISC operates with the primary goal of protecting national security while maintaining the balance between government surveillance activities and individual privacy rights.
The FISC functions as a secret court, operating behind closed doors, and its proceedings are not public. It consists of 11 federal district court judges selected by the Chief Justice of the United States, serving staggered seven-year terms. When government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), seek permission to conduct secret surveillance on individuals believed to be involved in activities related to foreign intelligence and national security, they must present their cases to the FISC.
As an oversight body, the FISC reviews and evaluates requests for surveillance warrants, wiretaps, and other forms of electronic surveillance. The court is responsible for ensuring that government surveillance activities are conducted lawfully and in compliance with the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable search and seizures. The FISC determines whether there is sufficient evidence and justification to grant surveillance authorizations, and it has the power to deny or modify requests that do not meet the legal standards.
The establishment of the FISC reflects the U.S. government's aim to strike a delicate balance between protecting national security and upholding individual privacy rights, particularly in cases involving foreign intelligence and potential threats to the country.