50 USC § 3231 - Applicability to United States intelligence activities of Federal laws implementing international treaties and agreements

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t50/s3231"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "50 USC § 3231 - Applicability to United States intelligence activities of Federal laws implementing international treaties and agreements"
title_number: 50
title_name: "WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE"
section_number: "3231"
section_name: "Applicability to United States intelligence activities of Federal laws implementing international treaties and agreements"
chapter_number: 44
chapter_name: "NATIONAL SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "IX"
subchapter_name: "ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title XI, § 1101, formerly title X, § 1001, as added Pub. L. 106–567, title III, § 308(a), Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2839; renumbered title XI, § 1101, Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 331(a)(1), (2), Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2394.)"
---


# § 3231. Applicability to United States intelligence activities of Federal laws implementing international treaties and agreements

**(a)** **In general** December 27, 2000

No Federal law enacted on or after , that implements a treaty or other international agreement shall be construed as making unlawful an otherwise lawful and authorized intelligence activity of the United States Government or its employees, or any other person to the extent such other person is carrying out such activity on behalf of, and at the direction of, the United States, unless such Federal law specifically addresses such intelligence activity.

**(b)** **Authorized intelligence activities** An intelligence activity shall be treated as authorized for purposes of subsection (a) if the intelligence activity is authorized by an appropriate official of the United States Government, acting within the scope of the official duties of that official and in compliance with Federal law and any applicable Presidential directive.

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**Source Credit**: (July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title XI, § 1101, formerly title X, § 1001, as added Pub. L. 106–567, title III, § 308(a), Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2839; renumbered title XI, § 1101, Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 331(a)(1), (2), Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2394.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to  prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.