Lawmakers Warn VPN Use May Let NSA Spy on You

Democrats want Tulsi Gabbard to clarify surveillance rules, reports Wired

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:00am

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A group of Democratic lawmakers has asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to publicly state whether Americans who route their internet traffic through overseas VPN servers are effectively being treated as foreigners under US surveillance rules, potentially losing constitutional protections against warrantless monitoring.

Why it matters

This issue raises concerns about privacy rights and the potential for government overreach in surveillance, especially as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is up for renewal next month.

The details

The lawmakers' letter flags risks under both Section 702 of FISA, which allows agencies to scoop up communications of people abroad, and Executive Order 12333, which governs even broader foreign surveillance. They want Gabbard to clarify whether VPN use changes Americans' privacy rights and what users can do to protect themselves.

  • Section 702 of FISA is up for renewal next month.

The players

Tulsi Gabbard

The Director of National Intelligence.

Ron Wyden

A U.S. Senator.

Elizabeth Warren

A U.S. Senator.

Edward Markey

A U.S. Senator.

Alex Padilla

A U.S. Senator.

Pramila Jayapal

A U.S. Representative.

Sara Jacobs

A U.S. Representative.

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What’s next

The lawmakers are waiting for a response from Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, on whether VPN use changes Americans' privacy rights under surveillance laws.

The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing tensions between privacy rights and national security, as well as the need for greater transparency and clarity around government surveillance policies, especially as new technologies like VPNs become more widely used.