The PAA restored FISA to its original focus of protecting the rights of persons in the United States, while not acting as an obstacle to gathering foreign intelligence on targets located in foreign countries.  The act also modernized FISA in four important ways: It clarifies FISA’s definition of electronic surveillance; It provides a role for the FISA court in reviewing the procedures the intelligence community uses to ensure that collection remains direct at persons located overseas; It provides a mechanism for the FISA court to direct third parties to assist the intelligence community in its collection efforts, and; it protects third parties from private lawsuits arising from assistance they provide the government in authorized foreign intelligence activities targeting individuals located outside the United States.

Link to text of law: Protect America Act

Acronym(s): PAA

Associated term(s): FISA

Associated law(s): FISA