FACTBOX: Bill would tighten controls on spy program

(Reuters) - Defying a White House veto threat, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to tighten controls on President George W. Bush's domestic spying program.

Here are highlights of the bill as it heads to the Senate:

-- Despite administration demands, the bill contains no retroactive immunity for any telecommunications company that may have participated in the government's warrantless domestic spying program begun shortly after the September 11 attacks.

-- Clarifies that the government may intercept without a warrant any communications between two non-Americans outside the United States.

-- Requires the government to seek court approval to conduct surveillance in the United States, but provides for surveillance to begin immediately in an emergency.

-- Requires court approval to listen in on foreign suspects making calls into the United States. In such cases, the government could eavesdrop without a court warrant on the American on the other end of the line. A warrant would only be needed if the American was or became a target.

-- Directs the Justice Department's Inspector General Office to conduct audits on communications collected under this authority. These audits would be provided to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court as well as the House and Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees.

-- Requires a finding of probable cause before conducting surveillance on Americans who are abroad, such as tourists and U.S. soldiers.

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Howard Goller)