Feds Refuse to Release Public Comments on NSA Reform — Citing Privacy
11 years, 1 month ago

Feds Refuse to Release Public Comments on NSA Reform — Citing Privacy

Wired  

The Obama administration has received 28 proposals from corporations with ideas for managing the NSA's massive database of U.S. phone call metadata. At issue is President Obama’s most significant NSA reform: his plan to take the trillion-plus records continuously gathered on American's phone calls out of the NSA's hands and give it to a third-party, and making it accessible to the government only through an order from a secret tribunal. The plan, based on a recommendation from an NSA reform panel Obama commissioned, would put a trove of information about American citizens at arm’s length from the government, while maintaining the functionality of a program that came to light amid leaks by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. To that end, on Feb. 12, James Clapper, who heads the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, closed a week-long process in which he urged U.S. companies to provide "information about existing commercially available capabilities" to house and protect telephone metadata while allowing NSA access via court orders. The RFI informs those responding to "ensure that the submitted material has been approved for public release," which, naturally, led WIRED to believe that the material would be released to the public.

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History of this topic

US House panel passes legislation aimed at overhauling certain aspects of NSA's internet surveillance programme
7 years, 4 months ago

US House panel passes legislation aimed at overhauling certain aspects of NSA's internet surveillance programme

Firstpost  

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the NSA to collect digital communications from foreign suspects living outside the US. A US House panel on Wednesday passed legislation seeking to overhaul some aspects of the National Security Agency’s warrantless internet surveillance programme, overcoming criticism from civil liberties advocates that it did not include enough safeguards to protect Americans’ …

U.S. Spy Chief Considers Disclosing Number Of Americans Surveilled Online
8 years, 11 months ago

U.S. Spy Chief Considers Disclosing Number Of Americans Surveilled Online

NPR  

U.S. Spy Chief Considers Disclosing Number Of Americans Surveilled Online Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP National Intelligence Director James Clapper said Monday that he is looking at "several options" to make public the number of U.S. citizens caught up in online surveillance of foreign targets by the U.S. government. PRISM "gathers messaging data from Alphabet Inc's …

Pro-Privacy Senator Wyden on Fighting the NSA From Inside the System
10 years, 5 months ago

Pro-Privacy Senator Wyden on Fighting the NSA From Inside the System

Wired  

Senator Ron Wyden thought he knew what was going on. He was surprised again when, six months later, USA Today published a different story revealing for the first time that the NSA was secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, records that US telecoms were willingly handing over without a warrant. Wyden doesn't want to …

Reading Between the Lines of Redacted NSA Documents
11 years, 1 month ago

Reading Between the Lines of Redacted NSA Documents

Wired  

Sometimes the most interesting part of a classified document is what is blacked out. Responding to the revelations from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, the U.S. government has provided unprecedented transparency about the nation's spying apparatus—all in a bid to quell public dissent—by releasing thousands of pages of once-classified documents. The government even has released formerly secret documents criticizing itself for …

Internet firms release data on NSA requests
11 years, 1 month ago

Internet firms release data on NSA requests

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A flurry of new reports from major technology companies show that the U.S. government collects customer information on tens of thousands of Americans every six months as part of secret national security investigations. The data releases by the major tech companies offered a mix of dispassionate graphics, reassurances and protests, seeking to alleviate customer concerns about government spying …

Tech Companies Release Details On Surveillance Data
11 years, 1 month ago

Tech Companies Release Details On Surveillance Data

NPR  

Tech Companies Release Details On Surveillance Data Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images Facebook, Microsoft, Google and LinkedIn released updated details on the number of times the U.S. government asked the companies to turn over information about its users. Another example: During the time period of January 1 through June 30, 2013, Facebook received 0 …

Independent board says NSA snooping illegal
11 years, 2 months ago

Independent board says NSA snooping illegal

The Hindu  

In what is being seen as a blow to U.S. President Barack Obama’s defence of the National Security Agency’s broad surveillance programmes, an independent executive branch board of experts has said that the government’s collection of telephone ‘metadata’ is illegal and needs to be stopped. Based on leaked copies of a 238-page report to be issued this week by the …

Tech Industry: Obama's NSA reforms 'insuffiecient'
11 years, 2 months ago

Tech Industry: Obama's NSA reforms 'insuffiecient'

India TV News  

San Francisco: Technology companies and industry groups took President Barack Obama's speech on U.S. surveillance as a step in the right direction, but chided him for not embracing more dramatic reforms to protect people's privacy and the economic interests of American companies that generate most of their revenue overseas. "The president's speech was empathetic, balanced and thoughtful, but insufficient to …

Tech Industry: Obama's NSA reforms 'insuffiecient'
11 years, 2 months ago

Tech Industry: Obama's NSA reforms 'insuffiecient'

India TV News  

Obama did agree to at least one major concession to the technology industry by pledging "to make public more information than ever before about the orders they have received to provide data to the government." "Far more needs to be done to restore the faith of the American people and repair the damage done globally to the U.S. reputation as …

Obama fuels reform on some but not all NSA spying
11 years, 2 months ago

Obama fuels reform on some but not all NSA spying

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s orders to change some U.S. surveillance practices put the burden on Congress to deal with a national security controversy that has alarmed Americans and outraged foreign allies. In a speech at the Justice Department on Friday, Obama said he was placing new limits on the way intelligence officials access phone records from hundreds of millions …

Obama Calls For Limits On NSA's Collection Of Phone Data
11 years, 2 months ago

Obama Calls For Limits On NSA's Collection Of Phone Data

NPR  

Obama Calls For Limits On NSA's Collection Of Phone Data LISTEN: President Obama's national security address Listen Saying that "critics are right to point out that without proper safeguards, this type of program could be used to yield more information about our private lives," President Obama said Friday that he wants the National Security Agency to stop holding on to …

Obama: US needs checks on NSA data gathering
11 years, 3 months ago

Obama: US needs checks on NSA data gathering

China Daily  

Obama: US needs checks on NSA data gathering Updated: 2013-12-21 11:35 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama tried to strike a middle ground on Friday on questions about broad surveillance practices conducted by the US National Security Agency, saying some checks are needed on the system but "we can't unilaterally disarm." Obama said it is possible that some bulk phone data …

US panel proposes curbs on some NSA programmes
11 years, 3 months ago

US panel proposes curbs on some NSA programmes

Live Mint  

Washington: A White House-appointed panel on Wednesday proposed curbs on some key National Security Agency surveillance operations, recommending limits on a programme to collect records of billions of telephone calls and new tests before Washington spies on foreign leaders. Among the panel’s proposals, made in the wake of revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, the most contentious may be …

WH releases NSA review by outside panel
11 years, 3 months ago

WH releases NSA review by outside panel

China Daily  

WASHINGTON - An outside panel appointed by US President Barack Obama has outlined 46 recommendations to limit the National Security Agency's secret surveillance programs, but above all found the programs should stay in place, according to the review report released by the White House Wednesday. The panel has recommended "a series of significant reforms" with respect to surveillance of US …

NSA Transparency Hurts Americans' Privacy, Feds Say With Straight Face
11 years, 4 months ago

NSA Transparency Hurts Americans' Privacy, Feds Say With Straight Face

Wired  

Adding limited public accountability to the NSA's vast electronic spying programs would actually harm the privacy of Americans, Obama administration officials told a Senate hearing today. Robert Litt, the general counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Bradford Wiegmann, deputy assistant attorney general, told the Committee on Privacy, Technology and the Law today that it would …

In first, Apple discloses information requests from governments
11 years, 4 months ago

In first, Apple discloses information requests from governments

Firstpost  

Apple Inc on Tuesday disclosed the number of information requests it received from governments around the world, making it one of the last big tech companies to do so in the wake of the controversy over data collection by U.S. national security agencies Apple Incon Tuesday disclosed the number of information requests it received from governments around the world, making …

In first, Apple discloses information requests from governments
11 years, 4 months ago

In first, Apple discloses information requests from governments

Firstpost  

Apple Inc on Tuesday disclosed the number of information requests it received from governments around the world, making it one of the last big tech companies to do so in the wake of the controversy over data collection by U.S. national security agencies Apple Inc on Tuesday disclosed the number of information requests it received from governments around the world, …

NSA admits to tracking mobile phone locations
11 years, 5 months ago

NSA admits to tracking mobile phone locations

The Hindu  

Under the intense scrutiny of lawmakers following the recent exposes on its covert surveillance, the National Security Agency boss General Keith Alexander conceded that the Agency recently ran a programme that entailed the collection of Americans’ mobile phone location data. Facing sharp questions at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Gen. Alexander admitted that during 2010-11 the NSA scooped …

NSA documents show spy agency violated privacy rules in collection of Americans' phone metadata
11 years, 6 months ago

NSA documents show spy agency violated privacy rules in collection of Americans' phone metadata

ABC  

US intelligence officials have declassified documents that showed the National Security Agency violated privacy rules when it sifted through phone records of Americans without legal justification. The foundation called the release of the documents a "victory" for transparency as intelligence officials said the papers illustrated how the spy service had made unintentional "mistakes" that were rectified under strict judicial oversight. …

Under fire, NSA defends surveillance programs as lawful
11 years, 7 months ago

Under fire, NSA defends surveillance programs as lawful

Live Mint  

Washington: Under increasing pressure to justify electronic surveillance programs that at times capture communications of American citizens, the US National Security Agency went to unusual lengths on Friday to insist its activities are lawful and any mistakes largely unintentional. add_main_imageIn a sign of how much heat it has taken since former NSA contractor Edward Snowden started disclosing details of highly …

Obama’s surveillance reforms don’t inspire confidence
11 years, 7 months ago

Obama’s surveillance reforms don’t inspire confidence

The Hindu  

In a balancing act, U.S. President Barack Obama outlined reforms to prevent abuse of controversial U.S. domestic surveillance programmes that he insisted help keep America safe, but critics said the steps did not go far enough. “Given the history of abuse by governments, it is right to ask questions about surveillance, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspect of our …

Amid new revelations on NSA, Obama meets tech officials
11 years, 7 months ago

Amid new revelations on NSA, Obama meets tech officials

The Hindu  

U.S. President Barack Obama held a secret meeting with the senior officials of tech giant Apple, telecom major AT&T, a computer scientist from Google, and several civil liberties groups on Thursday to discuss government surveillance, according to unnamed official sources that spoke to Politico magazine. Referencing a top-secret document passed by Mr. Snowden The Guardian said that the “rule change” …

President Obama Proposes Reforms To Surveillance Programs
11 years, 7 months ago

President Obama Proposes Reforms To Surveillance Programs

NPR  

President Obama Proposes Reforms To Surveillance Programs Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In the shadow of classified leaks that exposed some of the government's most secret surveillance programs, President Obama said he will work with Congress to reform the law governing their function. Sponsor Message Update at 3:59 p.m. On Immigration: President Obama said …

Documents shed light on U.S. surveillance programs
11 years, 7 months ago

Documents shed light on U.S. surveillance programs

CNN  

Story highlights Two documents describe scope of NSA data collection programs Their release is part of pledge by Obama adminstration to be transparent Critics have argued that the data collection violates privacy rights Washington CNN — The Obama administration released two documents on Friday describing the scope of National Security Agency data collection programs, a bid to quiet criticism they …

U.S. Senate attempts to bring NSA to account
11 years, 8 months ago

U.S. Senate attempts to bring NSA to account

The Hindu  

Pressure continued to mount against the U.S. National Security Agency ’s mass automated surveillance of millions of individuals’ Internet and telephone communications as members of Congress began interrogating senior NSA officials about spying programmes and the Obama administration relented on declassifying a key court authorisation for snooping. At the hearing, both Democrat and Republican Senators were said to have “questioned …

'Guardian' Report Sheds Light On NSA's Internet Spying
11 years, 8 months ago

'Guardian' Report Sheds Light On NSA's Internet Spying

NPR  

'Guardian' Report Sheds Light On NSA's Internet Spying toggle caption Guardian In its latest report stemming from leaked documents provided by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, The Guardian newspaper outlines a tool that gives intelligence analysts access to a wide range of data collected on the Internet. But, if you believe the way The Guardian frames the story, if …

House to Vote on Repealing NSA Dragnet Phone Surveillance
11 years, 8 months ago

House to Vote on Repealing NSA Dragnet Phone Surveillance

Wired  

The House is expected to vote later this week on an amendment to a roughly $600 billion defense spending package that would repeal authorization for the National Security Agency's dragnet collection of phone call metadata in the United States. The newspaper posted a leaked copy of a top secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinion requiring Verizon Business to provide the …

Under cover of darkness
11 years, 9 months ago

Under cover of darkness

The Hindu  

In response to revelations that the >National Security Agency has been extensively snooping on the telephone and internet communications of millions of Americans and foreigners, the Obama administration has said this covert monitoring under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was lawful and fully authorised by the U.S. Congress. Leaked NSA reports specifically allude to the agency’s >PRISM programme and the …

U.S. agency snooping on phone records of "millions"
11 years, 9 months ago

U.S. agency snooping on phone records of "millions"

The Hindu  

Armed with a judge-approved surveillance licence since April 25, the U.S. National Security Agency has been secretly snooping on the telephone records of millions of customers of telecom giant Verizon, British newspaper The Guardian has revealed. Less than two months ago, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court in Washington issued an order authorising Obama administration officials to obtain from Verizon …

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