50 U.S.C. 1842 FISA · Chapter 36: FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE
50 U.S.C. 1842 FISA: Pen registers and trap and trace devices for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations
United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.
Official text
Application for authorization or approval
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.
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.
Form of application; recipient
Each application under this section shall be in writing under oath or affirmation to—
a judge of the court established by section 1803(a) of this title; or
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.
Executive approval; contents of application
Each application under this section shall require the approval of the Attorney General, or a designated attorney for the Government, and shall include—
the identity of the Federal officer seeking to use the pen register or trap and trace device covered by the application;
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;
a specific selection term to be used as the basis for the use of the pen register or trap and trace device;
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—
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
otherwise raise doubts with respect to the findings required under subsection (d); and
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.
Ex parte judicial order of approval
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.
An order issued under this section—
shall specify—
the identity, if known, of the person who is the subject of the investigation;
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
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;
shall direct that—
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;
such provider, landlord, custodian, or other person—
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
shall maintain, under security procedures approved by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence pursuant to section 1805(b)(2)(C) 1 of this title, any records concerning the pen register or trap and trace device or the aid furnished; and
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
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—
in the case of the customer or subscriber using the service covered by the order (for the period specified by the order)—
the name of the customer or subscriber;
the address of the customer or subscriber;
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;
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;
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;
if applicable, any records reflecting period of usage (or sessions) by the customer or subscriber; and
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
if available, with respect to any customer or subscriber of incoming or outgoing communications to or from the service covered by the order—
the name of such customer or subscriber;
the address of such customer or subscriber;
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
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.
A denial of the application made under this subsection may be reviewed as provided in section 1803 of this title.
Time limitation
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.
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.
Cause of action barred
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.
Furnishing of results
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.
Privacy procedures
In general
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.
Rule of construction
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 in the official text
- (1) See References in Text note below.
Source: United States Code, title 50, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced.
Source credit: ( Pub. L. 95-511, title IV, § 402 , as added Pub. L. 105-272, title VI, § 601(2) , Oct. 20, 1998 , 112 Stat. 2405 ; amended Pub. L. 107-56, title II, § 214(a) , Oct. 26, 2001 , 115 Stat. 286 ; Pub. L. 107-108, title III, § 314(a)(5) , Dec. 28, 2001 , 115 Stat. 1402 ; Pub. L. 108-458, title I, § 1071(e) , Dec. 17, 2004 , 118 Stat. 3691 ; Pub. L. 109-177, title I , §§ 105(c), 128(a), Mar. 9, 2006 , 120 Stat. 195 , 228; Pub. L. 111-259, title VIII, § 806(a)(2) , Oct. 7, 2010 , 124 Stat. 2748 ; Pub. L. 114-23, title II , §§ 201(a), 202(a), June 2, 2015 , 129 Stat. 277 ; Pub. L. 115-118, title II, § 205(b)(4) , Jan. 19, 2018 , 132 Stat. 22 ; Pub. L. 118-49, § 10(a)(3) , (b)(3), Apr. 20, 2024 , 138 Stat. 876 , 877.)
50 U.S.C. 1842 on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel
United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.
This is reference material, not legal advice.