Hey everyone,
Eight years ago, we wrote about Trump taking control of the NSA, but since then, the US surveillance state has greatly expanded its scope. Because of this, we’re providing a comprehensive update on how government agencies, law enforcement, and corporations infringe on your data privacy and how you can take actions to protect yourself online.
Originally designed to target foreign nationals, Section 702 has a “backdoor” that allows intelligence agencies to collect data on Americans who communicate with individuals abroad—often without a warrant.
If Big Tech has your data, the government might too - location data, browsing history, financial details, even biometrics. This data can be accessed via Section 702 requests or National Security Letters (NSLs), which don’t require court approval and often include gag orders.
Agencies like the FBI also tap into these databases for warrantless searches, and technologies like facial recognition and geofencing have been used to monitor protestors and other groups.
Where does Trump stand on all of this?
It's hard to say because he has given conflicting messages, but Section 702 comes up for renewal in 2026 in the middle of his term, and we will be closely watching that.
**For more details, you can find our analysis here: ** https://proton.me/blog/trump-controls-nsa-fbi
Stay safe,
The Proton Team
