Lawmakers question VPN impact on Americans' FISA surveillance protections

Senate and House Democrats asked the Director of National Intelligence to clarify whether virtual private network (VPN) use can affect Americans' protections against warrantless surveillance, arguing that VPNs may obscure location and cause U.S. persons to be treated as foreigners under FISA Section 702 and Executive Order 12333; the letter warns that VPNs advertised as privacy tools could unintentionally weaken constitutional protections and comes as Congress considers renewal of Section 702.