---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 1841"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "1841"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/1841"
units:
  - "Chapter 36 — Foreign Intelligence Surveillance"
  - "Subchapter III — Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices for Foreign Intelligence Purposes"
---

# §1841. Definitions


As used in this subchapter:

- (1) The terms “[foreign power](/usc/50/1801.md?p=a)”, “[agent of a foreign power](/usc/50/1801.md?p=b)”, “[international terrorism](/usc/50/1801.md?p=c)”, “[foreign intelligence information](/usc/50/1801.md?p=e)”, “[Attorney General](/usc/50/1801.md?p=g)”, “[United States person](/usc/50/1801.md?p=i)”, “[United States](/usc/50/1821.md?p=1)”, “[person](/usc/50/1801.md?p=m)”, and “[State](/usc/50/1801.md?p=o)” shall have the same meanings as in [section 1801 of this title](/usc/50/1801.md).
- (2) The terms “pen register” and “trap and trace device” have the meanings given such terms in [section 3127 of title 18](/usc/18/3127.md).
- (3) The term “[aggrieved person](/usc/50/1801.md?p=k)” means any [person](/usc/50/1801.md?p=m)—
  - (A) whose telephone line was subject to the installation or use of a [pen register](#2) or [trap and trace device](#2) authorized by this subchapter; or
  - (B) whose communication instrument or device was subject to the use of a [pen register](#2) or [trap and trace device](#2) authorized by this subchapter to capture incoming electronic or other communications impulses.
- (4)
  - (A) The term “specific selection term”—
    - (i) is a term that specifically identifies a [person](/usc/50/1801.md?p=m), account, [address](#4-C), or personal device, or any other specific identifier; and
    - (ii) is used to limit, to the greatest extent reasonably practicable, the scope of information sought, consistent with the purpose for seeking the use of the [pen register](#2) or [trap and trace device](#2).
  - (B) A [specific selection term](#4-A) under [subparagraph (A)](#4-A) does not include an identifier that does not limit, to the greatest extent reasonably practicable, the scope of information sought, consistent with the purpose for seeking the use of the [pen register](#2) or [trap and trace device](#2), such as an identifier that—
    - (i) identifies an [electronic communication service provider](/usc/50/1881.md?p=b-4) (as that term is defined in [section 1881 of this title](/usc/50/1881.md)) or a provider of remote computing service (as that term is defined in [section 2711 of title 18](/usc/18/2711.md)), when not used as part of a specific identifier as described in [subparagraph (A)](#4-A), unless the provider is itself a subject of an authorized investigation for which the [specific selection term](#4-A) is used as the basis for the use; or
    - (ii) identifies a broad geographic region, including the [United States](/usc/50/1821.md?p=1), a city, a county, a [State](/usc/50/1801.md?p=o), a zip code, or an area code, when not used as part of a specific identifier as described in [subparagraph (A)](#4-A).
  - (C) For purposes of [subparagraph (A)](#4-A), the term “address” means a physical address or electronic address, such as an electronic mail address or temporarily assigned network address (including an Internet protocol address).
  - (D) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preclude the use of multiple terms or identifiers to meet the requirements of [subparagraph (A)](#4-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–511, title IV, § 401, as added Pub. L. 105–272, title VI, § 601(2), Oct. 20, 1998, 112 Stat. 2404; amended Pub. L. 114–23, title II, § 201(b), June 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 277.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 401 of Pub. L. 95–511 was renumbered section 701 and was set out as a note under section 1801 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–261.

### Amendments

2015—Par. (4). Pub. L. 114–23 added par. (4).