The letter from Wyden and Heinrich explains it a bit. The issue is that other foreign bulk collection has some oversight from Congress and the judiciary. Bulk collection authorized under FISA (The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) is reviewed by the FISC (a special secret court) and every so often the court will find that the NSA or FBI has messed up and needs to fix its procedures around US persons. Those programs are also briefed to the House and Senate intelligence committees who can, at least in theory, exercise oversight, even if in secret.
This CIA program has no particular statutory authorization and is being justified under an executive order from the 80s. It wasn't disclosed to anyone in Congress. It isn't being even notionally overseen by the FISC. It's just a bunch of CIA people justifying their own procedures to themselves.
This CIA program has no particular statutory authorization and is being justified under an executive order from the 80s. It wasn't disclosed to anyone in Congress. It isn't being even notionally overseen by the FISC. It's just a bunch of CIA people justifying their own procedures to themselves.
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/download/hainesburns_wydenheinr...