US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

50 U.S.C. § 1842

Pen registers and trap and trace devices for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations

(a)

Application for authorization or approval

(1)
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.
(2)
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.
(b)

Form of application; recipient

Each application under this section shall be in writing under oath or affirmation to—
(1)
section 1803(a) of this title a judge of the court established by ; or
(2)
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.
(c)

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—
(1)
the identity of the Federal officer seeking to use the pen register or trap and trace device covered by the application;
(2)
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;
(3)
a specific selection term to be used as the basis for the use of the pen register or trap and trace device;
(4)
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—
(A)
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
(B)
otherwise raise doubts with respect to the findings required under subsection (d); and
(5)
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.
(d)

Ex parte judicial order of approval

(1)
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.
(2)
An order issued under this section—
(A)
shall specify—
(i)
the identity, if known, of the person who is the subject of the investigation;
(ii)
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
(iii)
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;
(B)
shall direct that—
(i)
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;
(ii)
such provider, landlord, custodian, or other person—
(I)
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
(II)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
shall maintain, under security procedures approved by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence pursuant to section 1805(b)(2)(C)  of this title, any records concerning the pen register or trap and trace device or the aid furnished; and
(iii)
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
(C)
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—
(i)
in the case of the customer or subscriber using the service covered by the order (for the period specified by the order)—
(I)
the name of the customer or subscriber;
(II)
the address of the customer or subscriber;
(III)
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;
(IV)
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;
(V)
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;
(VI)
if applicable, any records reflecting period of usage (or sessions) by the customer or subscriber; and
(VII)
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
(ii)
if available, with respect to any customer or subscriber of incoming or outgoing communications to or from the service covered by the order—
(I)
the name of such customer or subscriber;
(II)
the address of such customer or subscriber;
(III)
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
(IV)
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.
(3)
section 1803 of this title A denial of the application made under this subsection may be reviewed as provided in .
(e)

Time limitation

(1)
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.
(2)
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.
(f)

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.

(g)

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.

(h)

Privacy procedures

(1)

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.

(2)

Rule of construction

section 1803(a) of this titleNothing in this subsection limits the authority of the court established under 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.

Pub. L. 95–511, title IV, § 402Pub. L. 105–272, title VI, § 601(2)112 Stat. 2405Pub. L. 107–56, title II, § 214(a)115 Stat. 286Pub. L. 107–108, title III, § 314(a)(5)115 Stat. 1402Pub. L. 108–458, title I, § 1071(e)118 Stat. 3691Pub. L. 109–177, title I120 Stat. 195Pub. L. 111–259, title VIII, § 806(a)(2)124 Stat. 2748Pub. L. 114–23, title II129 Stat. 277Pub. L. 115–118, title II, § 205(b)(4)132 Stat. 22Pub. L. 118–49, § 10(a)(3)138 Stat. 876(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 105(c), 128(a), , , 228; , , ; , §§ 201(a), 202(a), , ; , , ; , (b)(3), , , 877.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 3001 of this titleExecutive Order No. 12333, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is set out as a note under .

Section 1805(b)(2)(C) of this titlesection 1805(c)(2)(C) of this titlePub. L. 106–567, title VI, § 602(b)(1)114 Stat. 2851, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii)(II), was redesignated by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–49, § 10(a)(3)2024—Subsec. (c)(4). , added par. (4).

Pub. L. 118–49, § 10(b)(3)Subsec. (c)(5). , added par. (5).

Pub. L. 115–1182018—Subsec. (d)(3). added par. (3).

Pub. L. 114–23, § 201(a)2015—Subsec. (c)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 114–23, § 202(a)Subsec. (h). , added subsec. (h).

Pub. L. 111–259Pub. L. 108–4582010—Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii)(II). made technical amendment to directory language of . See 2004 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 109–177, § 128(a)(1)2006—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). , inserted “and” at end of cl. (ii) and substituted semicolon for period at end of cl. (iii).

Pub. L. 109–177, § 128(a)(2)Subsec. (d)(2)(C). , (3), added subpar. (C).

Pub. L. 109–177, § 105(c)Subsec. (e). , designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2), an order issued” for “An order issued”, and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 108–458Pub. L. 111–2592004—Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii)(II). , as amended by , substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence”.

Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(1)2001—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “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” for “for any investigation to gather foreign intelligence information or information concerning international terrorism”.

Pub. L. 107–108, § 314(a)(5)(A)Subsec. (c)(1). , inserted “and” after semicolon at end.

Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(2)Subsec. (c)(2). , amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “a certification by the applicant that the information likely to be obtained is relevant to an ongoing foreign intelligence or international terrorism investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under guidelines approved by the Attorney General; and”.

Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(3)Subsec. (c)(3). , struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “information which demonstrates that there is reason to believe that the telephone line to which the pen register or trap and trace device is to be attached, or the communication instrument or device to be covered by the pen register or trap and trace device, has been or is about to be used in communication with—

“(A) an individual who is engaging or has engaged in international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that involve or may involve a violation of the criminal laws of the United States; or

“(B) a foreign power or agent of a foreign power under circumstances giving reason to believe that the communication concerns or concerned international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities that involve or may involve a violation of the criminal laws of the United States.”

Pub. L. 107–56, § 214(a)(4)Subsec. (d)(2)(A). , amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “shall specify—

“(i) the identity, if known, of the person who is the subject of the foreign intelligence or international terrorism investigation;

“(ii) in the case of an application for the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device with respect to a telephone line—

“(I) the identity, if known, of the person to whom is leased or in whose name the telephone line is listed; and

“(II) the number and, if known, physical location of the telephone line; and

“(iii) in the case of an application for the use of a pen register or trap and trace device with respect to a communication instrument or device not covered by clause (ii)—

“(I) the identity, if known, of the person who owns or leases the instrument or device or in whose name the instrument or device is listed; and

“(II) the number of the instrument or device; and”.

Pub. L. 107–108, § 314(a)(5)(B)Subsec. (f). , substituted “terms of an order issued” for “terms of a court”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2024 Amendment

section 10(a)(3) of Pub. L. 118–49section 10(a)(6) of Pub. L. 118–49section 1804 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to applications made on or after the date that is 120 days after , see , set out as a note under .

section 10(b)(3) of Pub. L. 118–49section 10(b)(6) of Pub. L. 118–49section 1804 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to applications made on or after the date that is 120 days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–458section 3001 of this titleFor Determination by President that amendment by take effect on , see Memorandum of President of the United States, , 70 F.R. 23925, set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 108–458section 1097(a) of Pub. L. 108–458section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective not later than six months after , except as otherwise expressly provided, see , set out in an Effective Date of 2004 Amendment; Transition Provisions note under .