The National Security Agency intercepted Americans' e-mails and phone calls in recent months on a scale that went beyond limits set by Congress last year, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The problems were discovered during a review of the intelligence activities, the Justice Department said in a statement Wednesday night, and said they had been resolved.
Citing unnamed intelligence officials, the Times said the NSA had engaged in "'over-collection' of domestic communications of Americans." Sources reportedly described the practice as varying from significant to systemic to unintentional.
The agency also tried to wiretap a member of Congress without a warrant, an intelligence official told the Times.
The NSA believed that the congressman, whose identity was not revealed, was in contact with an extremist who had possible ties to terror and was already under surveillance. The NSA then tried to eavesdrop on the congressman's conversations, the Times said.
Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair admitted Thursday that the NSA made mistakes and intercepted the wrong communications. But he emphasized the number of errors is small to the overall collection efforts and that each error is investigated, leading to corrective measures to prevent reoccurrences.
"Let me be clear. I do not and will not support any surveillance activities that circumvent established processes for their lawful authorization and execution," he said in a statement. "Additionally, we go to great lengths to ensure that the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons are protected."
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein said Thursday she will investigate the indications of new wiretap violations.
A bill passed by Congress in July 2008 authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies to eavesdrop without court approval on foreign targets believed to be outside the United States.
In its statement, the Justice Department said it has taken "comprehensive steps to correct the situation and bring the program into compliance."
"As the Justice Department and National Security Agency were conducting routine oversight of intelligence activities to ensure compliance with existing laws and court orders, officials detected issues that raised concerns. Once these issues were identified, the Justice Department immediately notified the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court," said DOJ spokesman Dean Boyd, though he did not elaborate on what problems were found.
Once corrective measures were taken, Attorney General Eric Holder sought authorization for renewing the surveillance program, officials said.
"It is not clear to what extent the agency may have actively listened in on conversations or read e-mails of Americans without proper court authority, rather than simply obtain access to them," the Times said.
Domestic eavesdropping has been a contentious issue since 2005, when the Times revealed that for years following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the NSA intercepted international phone conversations and e-mails involving U.S. citizens without a warrant.
That program ended in 2007, and the following year Congress passed legislation requiring the NSA to get court approval to monitor the purely domestic communications of Americans who came under suspicion.
41 comments:
This situation concerns me. I know that there are bad people in our country, but taking away their freedom of privacy is very controversial. On one hand you’ll have the people that are like, “go ahead if it’s protecting our country, dig all you want.” On the other hand you’ll have, “this is supposed to be a country where no matter who you are you’ll have your rights.” I guess it worries me that they could be spying on me right now and I don’t even know it. Then again I’m not really worried about it. I can see both sides of the story let’s just hope our government isn’t taking this spying business too far.
I think that this is an overall good thing they are doing. Theres some bad people in our country with the help of this program our country will be a better safer America. Yes its a violation of peoples privacy but as long as the government doesnt take it too far i think its fine. I mean come on even if they are spying on you listening to your conversations its not like they care what your talking about. If your discussing something dumb like what your gonna wear tomorrow they prolly just stop listening right after they hear that.
Wow this is kind of unnerving. The thought that the government could be listening in on phone calls and reading your emails is kind of scary. I think that in certain situations like for investigation of a crime it's okay to "spy" in essense. But it isn't okay to listen to people's phone calls just for fun. It seems like our technological advances are starting to work against us.
Thats very creepy to me, I would rather the govenrment leave me alone. I understand the whole "protecting the people" thing, but can't they just watch people who are more likely to be a potencial harm. Not like my grandma needs to be watched because she is a threat. I would like to have my privacy, but who knows, they might have inplanted all of us with GPS trackers and cameras in us when we were born.
Hmmm,
I can see both sides of the story.
I do not know about the monetering part, because i mean
thats kind of weird.
People do need their privacy suspicious or not.
This is concerning though hopefully they don't get too serious about it.
I say to myself "well, it's not like any of my conversations would interest the government anyways", but I do think this is an infringement on our privacy. It's difficult to draw a line between freedom and safety and find the the right balance of the two. I fear that if american people act like they are okay with this the government will progress on to even more tenacious forms of spying on civilians.
I am all for following ppl if they are suspicious, but when they start intercepting calls and emails...it makes me feel like they could easily be doing this to anybody. I mean, "accidentally intercepting the wrong person"? doesnt sound too accidental if they have such mind blowing technology. I'll remember to start talking in code.
I think that this so called "spying" is pathetic. I can understand on how useful the situation might be, but someone might get a little carried away with that sort of power.
I agree there are two sides of the story, but it is not right for the NSA just to budge in to any conversation i think they have to have a really food reson on doing so like a warrant or something not jus any random person.
I agree with with Pleasant on this one the NSA shouldn't be spying on people with out a warrant. Yes I can understand if it was a national securities but they need to have the facts before acting, and making stupid mistakes.
It is only a matter of time before the government puts mics in our homes. They have been taking small steps over the past years that have definately been a restraint on our privace, like those cameras they put up on our light poles, which I think were the worst idea ever, and knew that it would fail. Each person in Lubbock would have had to get like two tickets a year just to pay all that off. I guarantee you, sometime in our lifetime the government is going to be listening in on all our homes, just like in that movie The Lives Of Others. It is scary, and there is no telling how far the government is going to go.
I don't know about this one. I mean to be honest the government doesn't really have enough time to spy on every single american in the U.S. But if this starts to become just a regular habit that becomes often, than I really wouldn't know what to say. I think that it does go against the country's rights and whether or not they are just trying to protect, they are going against people's freedoms. Its a tough situation. So I guess well just have to see what happens next.
Although this is a safety measure, I don't think that the NSA should have the right to violate the public's privacy. Warrants should be required for wiretaps and for surveillance of individuals that are suspicious. We don't need a 1984 style society now do we?
This is a free country and we have rights to our privacy but it is up to the people of this country to say where we should draw the line for the government. I mean if this a necessary evil to eavesdrop then go ahead, they have to have good reason for wanting to listen in on conversations. I don't think they have a phone glued to their ears, listening in to everyone. I think they just have too many conspiracy theories on their hands and don't know the right way to go about things.
This is a free country and we have rights to our privacy but it is up to the people of this country to say where we should draw the line for the government. I mean if this a necessary evil to eavesdrop then go ahead, they have to have good reason for wanting to listen in on conversations. I don't think they have a phone glued to their ears, listening in to everyone. I think they just have too many conspiracy theories on their hands and don't know the right way to go about things.
This makes just a tad uncomfortable thinking that ur government can liste nwaht people do or say privately. People have their rights hence the whole reason we have a bill of rights and all that stuff protecting them. Even thoug hthe government made laws about this and just because they made them does not mean they can ater them to fit their situation. They can get peoples conversations leagaly and the person will know. So their is no need to over do it.
This is kinda scary, because the government could push this farther than this. I understand that there may be some dangerous people in the country, but if they watch everything we say and do then it seems like we would no longer be able to use our free speech as freely as we would like how or our predecessors intended.
I've always felt that an invasion of privacy by the government is okay if it was made with a legitimate motive. I mean, I'd like to believe that they have the nation's best interest at hand when they're listening in on phone conversations of suspicious people. If you don't have anything to hide, some harmless eavesdropping isn't going to kill you.
The Republicans in office are continuing to be hypocrites. They don't want government intervention, and yet they justify the American government's spying on its own citizens by claiming that it keeps America safe. Most of this spying simply depletes taxpayer money, and has been a very ineffective way to catch terrorists. Meanwhile, our privacy is being taken away, and even our freedom. Big Brother is back.
I honestly believe that the National Security Agency should not be allowed to intercept amarican's personal phone calls and e-mails. It's a violation of privacy.
Eh.. its whatever. If they want to read my facebook emails, and my texts asking my friends where you wanna go for lunch, and what were doing this weekend, be my guest. It really isnt a big deal at all.
Creepers!!!!! I thought this country had rights including freedom of privacy. I guess not. Unless your doing something your not supposed to be doing.Seriously the government must be really bored if they feel the need to spy on the whole country.
The use of spying on people without permision is horrible. I agree that there are bad people around the states but going as far as listing on people during a conversation is going too far. Everyone who is an American has rights and the government shouldn’t violate them without the consent of a search warrant or the permission of a judicial judge.
my opinion on this matter sways on both sides, yeah invading their privacy is basically taking away their freedom, but on the other hand people do it every day with those "nanny cams" so im on the fence about this one.
this is a very instering situation because there are some harmful people in this country, but that is not right to steal their right for their own privacy. and the worse thing is that people support this, i understand having an ocassional check on them, but not to watch their every move. i hope that tihis spying wont go too far
I am very split on this issue. As a libertarian, I feel that it is a gross violation of our personal rights when an already-overpowered government furthers its powers through obtaining information of its citizens. On the other hand, the threat we are up against is very real and any extra security taken to prevent American lives lost is a positive. They do need to do it legally however, that I am sure about. Those laws are in place to protect us, US citizens.
I think that the government should not watch over people and what they do. I can understand it being for a good cause, but not for their own benefits.
This is ridiculous. The NSA is abusing it's unconstitutional power. Everything they do is an illegal search and self-incrimination. This might help protect our nation, but it is ruining WHAT America is. The fact that they CAN intercept Domestic e-mails and phone calls makes my stomach churn. Maybe I read too much into the Constitution...maybe we need to pull a Lincoln and disregard it completely...while we're at it let's Necromance Stalin back to life and let him take over.
This situation gets me a little steamed. Because dude come on they act as if they have never heard of Freedom of Privacy. I mean I know there are lots of bad people out there and the CIA was concerned of suppicous activitys that was going on, But it doesnt mean they have to go behind that dude's back and like stalk and listen and watch every little thing he did. But hey thats my only my opinion!
Although I'm very much for privacy and the government staying out of my private life, there is a major advantage to being able to zero in on people potentially planning an attack or something similar. I have no reason to fear the government when I say bomb on the phone since I don't plan on attacking anyone. As long as the listening and spying is kept in check and is not allowed to grow out of hand there is no real threat to the American people since it helps more than it would hurt when under control.
I'm torn between wanting people to have their privacy rights protected and making sure the U.S. is safe. One of the great things about this country is that it has so many freedoms and rights. Having the NSA eavesdropping into any conversation without a warrant just makes it seem like the government is trying to intervene in our freedom of speech. But I guess when it all comes down to it I would be willing to risk my privacy in order make sure that we have security.
This issue is starting to get bigger as time goes on. Americans have certain rights such as freedom of speech that is supposed to be protected by the first amendment. The fact that there are loop holes to spy on people worries me. I can understand if the government has reason to worry based on terror if hundreds of people will be effected by just one person, but most people aren't out to destroy and hurt others. These people who have been spied on should have the right to know and the government should definitely get their crap together and quit over doing it.
Im pretty sure privacy is just i security blanket word for people who have some skelitons in their closets. I personelly think that either way the government will be watching us whether they let us know or not.
I think thats really wrong. We have the right to our privacy,and i wouldnt want you hearing my fone conversations unless you had a warrant other than that you have no right to hear my conversations!!!! people say its ok to hear peolpes conversations if someone suspects something going on with someone else but when it happens to you you dont like it so its 50/50 but yea thats just not right.
Everyone knows there are bad people in our country, but for the most part the average americans are hard working and honest. I think people have the right to their own privacy. But aso the government has the right to protect us. I think we would all agree that we like the government protection..but when is it enough and it becomes an invasion of our privacy? I woudnt mind a little spying to catchsome potentially harmfulpeople but it would be very discomforting knowing "Big Brother" is watching you.
I think everyone should still have their own privacy. I really think it should depend on some certain situations to be watching you. SO its a hard subject.
This is an example of a time when you realize how much the media does for us. It is their job to snoop into everyone's business. It can be annoying, but they do a fairly decent job. The NSA should know better. The American people will find out sooner or later. It makes me wonder though. Where is the report on their successes? Hmph. The media just reports on things that make good stories such as scandals and major news stories. I mean, who cares about the achievements of governmental agencies?
I think that if the government wants to listen to our phone conversations and read our texts, then let 'em. I have nothing to hide. But what i don't understand is, why they would want to spy on their own citzens than try to spend more time and effort on fixing the economy.
i dont think its right for the goveernment to listen in on our conversations. we dontlisten in on theirs so why should they listen in on ours
The right of every American is the freedom of privacy. I think this is unethical and an extreme invasion of privacy. No one has the right to record or monitor personal information such as this. Americans thrive on the rights of our freedom, are really free if every detail of our lives can be monitored?
The right of every American is the freedom of privacy. I think this is unethical and an extreme invasion of privacy. No one has the right to record or monitor personal information such as this. Americans thrive on the rights of our freedom, are really free if every detail of our lives can be monitored?
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