Title 50War and National DefenseRelease 119-73

§1810 Civil liability

Title 50 › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE › § 1810

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone (not a foreign power or agent) unlawfully electronically monitored, or whose monitored information was used or disclosed illegally, can sue the person who did it. They get actual damages, but at least the higher of a set amount or daily amount: U.S. persons get $10,000 or $1,000 per day; others get $1,000 or $100 per day. They recover punitive damages plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §1810

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An aggrieved person, other than a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power, as defined in section 1801(a) or (b)(1)(A) of this title, respectively, who has been subjected to an electronic surveillance or about whom information obtained by electronic surveillance of such person has been disclosed or used in violation of section 1809 of this title shall have a cause of action against any person who committed such violation and shall be entitled to recover—
(a)actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages equal to the greater of—
(1)if the aggrieved person is a United States person, $10,000 or $1,000 per day for each day of violation; or
(2)for any other aggrieved person, $1,000 or $100 per day for each day of violation;
(b)punitive damages; and
(c)reasonable attorney’s fees and other investigation and litigation costs reasonably incurred.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–49 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages of $1,000 or $100 per day for each day of violation, whichever is greater;”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 1810

Title 50War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73