§1842 — Title 50 War and National Defense | U.S. Code

Summary

Allows the Attorney General or a government lawyer he names to ask a special federal judge for permission to put in or use pen registers or trap‑and‑trace devices when the goal is to get foreign intelligence not about a U.S. person or to stop international terrorism or secret foreign spying. If the target is a U.S. person, the investigation cannot be based only on activities protected by the First Amendment. The request must be written, sworn, and filed with a FISA court judge or a Magistrate Judge who the Chief Justice has publicly designated. The application must say who is asking, explain why the information fits the foreign‑intel or terrorism test, give the selection term to be used, and include certain certifications and any known information that might affect the judge’s decision. If the judge finds the rules are met, the judge will issue a secret order without notifying the target. The order will identify the person or line (if known), describe the kinds of data covered, require providers or others to help install the device and keep the matter secret, and allow payment for reasonable costs. Orders normally last up to 90 days, with 90‑day extensions; if the applicant certifies the data will be foreign intelligence not about a U.S. person, an order or extension may last up to one year. Providers who follow the order cannot be sued for complying. Results must be given to the authorized officials during normal business hours, and the Attorney General must have rules to protect private information about U.S. persons; the judge or Attorney General can add extra privacy protections.

Title 50, §1842

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General or a designated attorney for the Government may make an application for an order or an extension of an order authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device for any investigation to obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, provided that such investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely upon the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution which is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under such guidelines as the Attorney General approves pursuant to Executive Order No. 12333, or a successor order.

(2)The authority under paragraph (1) is in addition to the authority under subchapter I of this chapter to conduct the electronic surveillance referred to in that paragraph.

(b)Each application under this section shall be in writing under oath or affirmation to—

(1)a judge of the court established by section 1803(a) of this title; or

(2)a United States Magistrate Judge under chapter 43 of title 28 who is publicly designated by the Chief Justice of the United States to have the power to hear applications for and grant orders approving the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device on behalf of a judge of that court.

(c)Each application under this section shall require the approval of the Attorney General, or a designated attorney for the Government, and shall include—

(1)the identity of the Federal officer seeking to use the pen register or trap and trace device covered by the application;

(2)a certification by the applicant that the information likely to be obtained is foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person or is relevant to an ongoing investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, provided that such investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely upon the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution;

(3)a specific selection term to be used as the basis for the use of the pen register or trap and trace device;

(4)a certification by the Federal Officer seeking to use the pen register or trap and trace device covered by the application that, to the best knowledge of the Federal Officer, the Attorney General or a designated attorney for the Government has been apprised of all information that might reasonably—

(A)call into question the accuracy of the application or the reasonableness of any assessment in the application conducted by the department or agency on whose behalf the application is made; or

(B)otherwise raise doubts with respect to the findings required under subsection (d); and

(5)non-cumulative information known to the Federal officer seeking to use the pen register or trap and trace device covered by the application, that is potentially exculpatory regarding the requested legal findings or any assessment in the application.

(d)(1)Upon an application made pursuant to this section, the judge shall enter an ex parte order as requested, or as modified, approving the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device if the judge finds that the application satisfies the requirements of this section.

(2)An order issued under this section—

(A)shall specify—

(i)the identity, if known, of the person who is the subject of the investigation;

(ii)the identity, if known, of the person to whom is leased or in whose name is listed the telephone line or other facility to which the pen register or trap and trace device is to be attached or applied; and

(iii)the attributes of the communications to which the order applies, such as the number or other identifier, and, if known, the location of the telephone line or other facility to which the pen register or trap and trace device is to be attached or applied and, in the case of a trap and trace device, the geographic limits of the trap and trace order;

(B)shall direct that—

(i)upon request of the applicant, the provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or other person shall furnish any information, facilities, or technical assistance necessary to accomplish the installation and operation of the pen register or trap and trace device in such a manner as will protect its secrecy and produce a minimum amount of interference with the services that such provider, landlord, custodian, or other person is providing the person concerned;

(ii)such provider, landlord, custodian, or other person—

(I)shall not disclose the existence of the investigation or of the pen register or trap and trace device to any person unless or until ordered by the court; and

(II)shall maintain, under security procedures approved by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence pursuant to section 1805(b)(2)(C) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title, any records concerning the pen register or trap and trace device or the aid furnished; and

(iii)the applicant shall compensate such provider, landlord, custodian, or other person for reasonable expenses incurred by such provider, landlord, custodian, or other person in providing such information, facilities, or technical assistance; and

(C)shall direct that, upon the request of the applicant, the provider of a wire or electronic communication service shall disclose to the Federal officer using the pen register or trap and trace device covered by the order—

(i)in the case of the customer or subscriber using the service covered by the order (for the period specified by the order)—

(I)the name of the customer or subscriber;

(II)the address of the customer or subscriber;

(III)the telephone or instrument number, or other subscriber number or identifier, of the customer or subscriber, including any temporarily assigned network address or associated routing or transmission information;

(IV)the length of the provision of service by such provider to the customer or subscriber and the types of services utilized by the customer or subscriber;

(V)in the case of a provider of local or long distance telephone service, any local or long distance telephone records of the customer or subscriber;

(VI)if applicable, any records reflecting period of usage (or sessions) by the customer or subscriber; and

(VII)any mechanisms and sources of payment for such service, including the number of any credit card or bank account utilized for payment for such service; and

(ii)if available, with respect to any customer or subscriber of incoming or outgoing communications to or from the service covered by the order—

(I)the name of such customer or subscriber;

(II)the address of such customer or subscriber;

(III)the telephone or instrument number, or other subscriber number or identifier, of such customer or subscriber, including any temporarily assigned network address or associated routing or transmission information; and

(IV)the length of the provision of service by such provider to such customer or subscriber and the types of services utilized by such customer or subscriber.

(3)A denial of the application made under this subsection may be reviewed as provided in section 1803 of this title.

(e)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), an order issued under this section shall authorize the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device for a period not to exceed 90 days. Extensions of such an order may be granted, but only upon an application for an order under this section and upon the judicial finding required by subsection (d). The period of extension shall be for a period not to exceed 90 days.

(2)In the case of an application under subsection (c) where the applicant has certified that the information likely to be obtained is foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person, an order, or an extension of an order, under this section may be for a period not to exceed one year.

(f)No cause of action shall lie in any court against any provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or other person (including any officer, employee, agent, or other specified person thereof) that furnishes any information, facilities, or technical assistance under subsection (d) in accordance with the terms of an order issued under this section.

(g)Unless otherwise ordered by the judge, the results of a pen register or trap and trace device shall be furnished at reasonable intervals during regular business hours for the duration of the order to the authorized Government official or officials.

(h)(1)The Attorney General shall ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place to safeguard nonpublicly available information concerning United States persons that is collected through the use of a pen register or trap and trace device installed under this section. Such policies and procedures shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the need to protect national security, include privacy protections that apply to the collection, retention, and use of information concerning United States persons.

(2)Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of the court established under section 1803(a) of this title or of the Attorney General to impose additional privacy or minimization procedures with regard to the installation or use of a pen register or trap and trace device.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Executive Order No. 12333, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is set out as a note under section 3001 of this title. section 1805(b)(2)(C) of this title, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii)(II), was redesignated section 1805(c)(2)(C) of this title by Pub. L. 106–567, title VI, § 602(b)(1), Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2851.

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 118–49, § 10(a)(3), added par. (4). Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 118–49, § 10(b)(3), added par. (5). 2018—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 115–118 added par. (3). 2015—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 114–23, § 201(a), added par. (3). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–23, § 202(a), added subsec. (h). 2010—Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 111–259 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 108–458. See 2004 Amendment note below. 2006—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–177, § 128(a)(1), inserted “and” at end of cl. (ii) and substituted semicolon for period at end of cl. (iii). Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 109–177, § 128(a)(2), (3), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–177, § 105(c), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2), an order issued” for “An order issued”, and added par. (2). 2004—Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 108–458, as amended by Pub. L. 111–259, substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence”. 2001—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(1), substituted “for any investigation to obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, provided that such investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely upon the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution” for “for any investigation to gather foreign intelligence information or information concerning international terrorism”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–108, § 314(a)(5)(A), inserted “and” after semicolon at end. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “a certification by the applicant that the information likely to be obtained is relevant to an ongoing foreign intelligence or international terrorism investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under guidelines approved by the Attorney General; and”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(3), struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “information which demonstrates that there is reason to believe that the telephone line to which the pen register or trap and trace device is to be attached, or the communication instrument or device to be covered by the pen register or trap and trace device, has been or is about to be used in communication with— “(A) an individual who is engaging or has engaged in international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that involve or may involve a violation of the criminal laws of the United States; or “(B) a foreign power or agent of a foreign power under circumstances giving reason to believe that the communication concerns or concerned international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that involve or may involve a violation of the criminal laws of the United States.” Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(4), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “shall specify— “(i) the identity, if known, of the person who is the subject of the foreign intelligence or international terrorism investigation; “(ii) in the case of an application for the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device with respect to a telephone line— “(I) the identity, if known, of the person to whom is leased or in whose name the telephone line is listed; and “(II) the number and, if known, physical location of the telephone line; and “(iii) in the case of an application for the use of a pen register or trap and trace device with respect to a communication instrument or device not covered by clause (ii)— “(I) the identity, if known, of the person who owns or leases the instrument or device or in whose name the instrument or device is listed; and “(II) the number of the instrument or device; and”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107–108, § 314(a)(5)(B), substituted “terms of an order issued” for “terms of a court”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2024 AmendmentAmendment by section 10(a)(3) of Pub. L. 118–49 applicable with respect to applications made on or after the date that is 120 days after Apr. 20, 2024, see section 10(a)(6) of Pub. L. 118–49, set out as a note under section 1804 of this title. Amendment by section 10(b)(3) of Pub. L. 118–49 applicable with respect to applications made on or after the date that is 120 days after Apr. 20, 2024, see section 10(b)(6) of Pub. L. 118–49, set out as a note under section 1804 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2004 AmendmentFor Determination by President that amendment by Pub. L. 108–458 take effect on Apr. 21, 2005, see Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 21, 2005, 70 F.R. 23925, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 108–458 effective not later than six months after Dec. 17, 2004, except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 1097(a) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out in an

Effective Date

of 2004 Amendment; Transition Provisions note under section 3001 of this title.

§1842 Pen registers and trap and trace devices for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations

Summary

Title 50, §1842

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata