The National Security Agency is accused of purchasing Americans’ internet browsing information from commercial data brokers without a warrant, according to documents released by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
In a letter to Wyden, NSA Director Paul Nakasone provided new unclassified documents revealing that the NSA is purchasing Americans’ data. The letter, dated Dec. 11, was made public Thursday.
Wyden, a privacy and internet freedom advocate and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called on U.S. intelligence agencies to stop illegally using personal data without the public’s knowledge or consent.
“The U.S. government funds a shady industry whose flagrant invasions of Americans’ privacy are not only unethical, but illegal,” Wyden said in a letter to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines on Thursday. It should not be legalized or legalized.”
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Sen. Ron Wyden called on U.S. intelligence officials to stop illegally using Americans’ personal data without their knowledge or consent. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The senator had blocked the appointment of Timothy Ho as the next NSA director until the agency answered his questions about collecting Americans’ internet and location information. Wyden said in a news release that he pushed for nearly three years to release information showing the NSA was purchasing Americans’ internet records.
“These records can identify Americans seeking help from suicide hotlines and hotlines for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence,” he wrote in a letter to Haines. Ta.
Nakasone said in a letter to Wyden that the data collected “may include information related to electronic devices used outside the United States, and in some cases within the United States,” and that the acquisition acknowledged.
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New documents released by Sen. Wyden show the NSA buys Americans’ internet browsing information from commercial data brokers without a warrant. (Getty Images)
The NSA sought to defend the purchase, arguing that this information is of significant value to national security and cybersecurity missions and is being used sparingly.
“Every step of the way, the NSA takes steps to minimize the collection of U.S. personal information, including by applying technical filters,” an NSA spokesperson said.
Mr. Wyden told Mr. Haines that obtaining such records of Americans’ browsing data violates Federal Trade Commission standards. An FTC order earlier this month prohibited Virginia-based data broker Outlogic (formerly known as X-Mode Social) from selling sensitive location data that helps track the location of individuals.
NSA Administrator Paul Nakasone said the data collected “may include information related to electronic devices used outside the United States and, in some cases, within the United States.” (Getty Images)
“Until recently, the data brokerage industry and intelligence agencies’ purchasing of data from these shady companies existed in a legal gray area, largely due to the secrecy surrounding the practice.” wrote Wyden. “App developers and advertising companies do not meaningfully disclose to users or seek their informed consent the sale or sharing of their personal data with data brokers.”
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In his letter to Haines, Mr. Wyden asked the U.S. intelligence community to create an inventory of all Americans’ personal data held by the NSA and delete any data that does not comply with FTC standards.
“If there is a specific need for IC elements to retain data, that need and a description of the data retained should be communicated to Congress and, to the extent possible, to the American people,” Wyden wrote.
Reuters contributed to this report.
