NSA
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1952 |
| Type | Government agency |
| Industry | Intelligence and counterintelligence |
| Official website | https://www.nsa.gov/ |
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a member of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) established in 1952. The NSA works with universities, businesses, and other entities to increase the United States national security from threats both foreign and domestic.[citation needed] Their methods have come under national scrutiny many times, most notably in 2013 when Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the NSA's mass warrantless surveillance of the American populace post-9/11.[1]
Incidents[edit | edit source]
Purchasing illegally-obtained data[edit | edit source]
In January 2024, "NSA officials told [US Senator Ron Wyden] that not only is the intelligence agency purchasing data on Americans located in the US but that it also bought Americans' Internet metadata." Wyden also "suggested that the intelligence community might be helping data brokers violate an FTC order requiring that Americans [...] give informed consent before their data can be sold to third parties."[2]
The FTC order in question being part of a settlement with X-Mode Social, Inc. and its successor, Outlogic, LLC. The order established a precedent to prohibit data brokers from collecting and selling sensitive consumer data without explicit consent from the consumer.[3][4] Notably, this order "seems to carve out exceptions for any [location] data collected outside the US and used for either 'security purposes' or 'national security purposes conducted by federal agencies or other federal entities.'"[2]
This incident may indicate pressure from the NSA on data brokers and collectors to continue privacy violations, opt-in by default practices, and user tracking.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Allies concerned about privacy, want answers about US surveillance programs". NBC News. 11 June 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Belanger, Ashley (26 Jan 2024). "NSA finally admits to spying on Americans by purchasing sensitive data". Ars Technica.
- ↑ "In the Matter of X-Mode Social, Inc., a corporation, and Outlogic, LLC., a Limited Liability Company | Decision and Order" (PDF). Federal Trade Commission.
- ↑ "FTC Finalizes Order with X-Mode and Successor Outlogic Prohibiting it from Sharing or Selling Sensitive Location Data". Federal Trade Commission. 12 April 2024.