Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 ( " FISA " , ) is a United States federal law which establishes procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of " foreign intelligence information " between " foreign powers " and " agents of foreign powers " suspected of espionage or terrorism . The Act created the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) to oversee requests for surveillance warrants by federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies . It has been repeatedly amended since the September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act