The Senate is set to extend warrantless wiretapping already approved by the House and President Obama. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Image: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Congress has voted to renew the government’s authority to monitor electronic communications of foreigners abroad.

The Senate on Friday approved a five-year extension by a 73-23 vote and sent the bill to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it.

This comes after delaying the final vote on whether or not to add oversight and privacy safeguards to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) amendments that allows federal agencies to conduct warrantless wiretapping.

The program began shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks under the Bush administration, and without congressional authorization. Many critics and whistle-blowers have alleged that the law has enabled many law-abiding Americans’ communications to be included in the international electronic dragnet.

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