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January 20, 2006
The NSA's wiretap dance with the private sector
The National Security Agency has turned to the private sector since its formation in 1949, according to a Jan. 5 story on National Public Radio. After World War II the technology of the NSA - then known as the American Forces Security Agency - was limited. The agency turned to the telegraph companies, which agreed to give a copy of every telegram everyday to the NSA.
When communications switched to satellites the NSA was able to pick up telephone conversations on its own. But, as we move into the digital age, telecommunications is moving from satellites to underwater fiber-optic cables, which are hard to tap.
Telecommunications companies are mandated to give the federal government technical co-operation and must have their wires wiretap- accessible. The Patriot Act makes a provision that telecom companies aren't liable for wiretapping if the federal government presents them with a warrant.
As the New York Times reported, this wasn't the case when the NSA asked the telecoms for access to the massive switches that handle international Internet and phone traffic. Regardless of liability and warrants, some companies are worried about being used for government data mining.
The NSA’s method is to vacuum up as much information as possible and to pass it on to other agencies. So what to do with all the info, including phone calls that still need to be transcribed by human linguists. I turn to the headlines of the Jan. 18 “Daily Show,” in a segment called, "rampant buggery."
(As I side note I also suggest the “Daily Show” interview with former head of the CIA, James Woolsey. There are interesting points about the separation of the FBI and CIA, and civil liberties.)
Posted by Beth Davidz at January 20, 2006 03:32 PM
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