Comicomment | Surveillance Empire: U.S. unrestricted eavesdropping

(ECNS) -- The Section 702 of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), an important legal basis for U.S. intelligence authorities to eavesdrop on non-U.S. citizens overseas and step up international surveillance without authorization, will expire on December 31, 2023. The U.S. government is urgently seeking to renew this provision and extend its surveillance privileges.

For decades, the United States has conducted indiscriminate mass surveillance of its citizens, as well as foreign governments, companies and individuals. Permeating through every part of the world, the U.S. surveillance network not only targets designated rivals or foes, but also allies.

The U.S. government has continuously expanded its scope of surveillance, meddled in other countries' internal affairs, and interfered in international affairs, which runs counter to international law and the basic norms of international relations. "The more targets the U.S. spies on, the fewer friends it has. The U.S. needs a better sense of boundary and less obsession for control," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.