FBI’s Secret Search Surge: Inside the 35% Spike in Warrantless Data Queries on Americans

When the FBI quietly ramped up its searches of Americans’ data last year, few outside Washington noticed. Now, with exclusive new data emerging just weeks before a controversial surveillance law is set to expire, lawmakers and privacy advocates are on high alert. The numbers point to a dramatic reversal in a years-long decline-and have reignited the fierce struggle over how much the government should peer into its citizens’ private lives, and at what cost to civil liberties.

Fast Facts

• FBI searches of Americans’ data under Section 702 jumped 35% in 2025, from 5,518 to 7,413 queries.
• Section 702 of FISA allows collection of foreign intelligence but often sweeps up Americans’ communications.
• Just 28% of FBI queries in 2025 returned any useful information, down from 38% in 2024.
• Section 702 is set to expire April 20, and its renewal is fiercely debated in Congress.
• Privacy groups urge new safeguards, warning of unchecked warrantless surveillance.

According to a letter obtained by Recorded Future News, the FBI conducted 7,413 “U.S. person queries” between December 2024 and November 2025, up sharply from 5,518 the previous year. These queries, which search data collected under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), have long been a lightning rod in debates over government overreach. While Section 702 is designed to collect intelligence on foreign threats, it often sweeps up Americans’ calls and emails in the process.

For years, the FBI’s use of this powerful tool was in decline-plummeting from nearly 3 million searches in 2021 to just over 57,000 in 2023. But the new data shows a sudden uptick, raising fresh questions about oversight and necessity. The agency offered no public explanation for the increase, and an FBI spokesperson declined to comment.

Critics argue that Section 702 enables warrantless searches of Americans’ private information, violating basic privacy rights. The law’s defenders, including President Trump and top intelligence officials, insist it is vital for tracking terrorists, spies, and hackers. With Section 702 set to expire on April 20, the White House is pushing for an 18-month extension. Meanwhile, civil liberties groups and a rare alliance of progressive and conservative lawmakers are demanding new safeguards before any renewal.

Controversy over the FBI’s use of Section 702 is not new. In 2024, it was revealed that the agency used the tool to look up information related to the January 6 Capitol riot, the George Floyd protests, and even a sitting member of Congress. These revelations fueled bipartisan outrage and demands for stricter controls, especially since only a fraction of queries yield actionable intelligence-just 28% in 2025, according to the latest figures.

As Congress gears up for another bruising battle over surveillance powers, privacy advocates warn that supporting unchecked warrantless searches will erode civil rights. In a letter to lawmakers, dozens of advocacy groups called for blocking renewal unless robust privacy reforms are added. The coming weeks may decide whether the government’s gaze grows sharper-or whether Americans reclaim a measure of digital privacy.

Conclusion

The FBI’s renewed appetite for searching Americans’ data under Section 702 has thrust the agency-and the nation-back into the crosshairs of a debate over liberty versus security. As Congress considers the future of this sweeping surveillance authority, the stakes could not be higher for privacy in the digital age.

WIKICROOK

• Section 702: Section 702 lets U.S. agencies collect foreign communications without a warrant, but can incidentally capture Americans’ data during surveillance.
• FISA: FISA is a U.S. law that sets guidelines for collecting foreign intelligence, balancing national security needs with privacy and civil liberties protections.
• U.S. person query: A U.S. Person Query is a search for information about American citizens or residents in intelligence databases, governed by strict privacy laws.
• Warrantless surveillance: Warrantless surveillance is when authorities monitor or collect data without a judge’s approval, raising concerns about privacy and legal oversight.
• De: De-identification removes or obscures personal information from data sets to protect privacy, but future advances may allow re-identification.