Topic: National Security Agency

Global News Blog Poll: Hong Kongers would not back extradition of Edward Snowden

About 50 percent say the NSA whistle-blower should not be surrendered, 17.6 percent said he should be turned over, and a third aren't sure yet, according to poll published today.

NSA cyber spying on China not a surprise, but it's not ho-hum, either (+video)

NSA chief says leaks about US cyber spying on China, and techniques for doing it, will impair intelligence-gathering. Others play that down, saying the more significant hit will be to relations with China and to US global work on behalf of a free and open Internet. 

Another US-UK 'special relationship' - between intelligence services

Edward Snowden's leaks about the NSA's PRISM program have drawn attention to the extraordinarily tight partnership between the US agency and GCHQ, its British counterpart.

Edward Snowden: Whistle-blowing protections most likely won't help

While Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, and others portray him as a heroic whistle-blower, his decision to make top secret documents public severely limits his legal protections, analysts say.

Robert Reich Powerful and unaccountable: NSA – and Wall Street

Want proof that NSA snooping thwarts terror plots? Stand by, senator says.

Efforts are afoot to declassify some examples of terrorist plots thwarted by controversial NSA surveillance programs, perhaps by next week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Thursday after senators met with US intelligence officials.

Secret NSA program could have 'derailed' 9/11 attacks, FBI director says (+video)

FBI Director Robert Mueller, testifying on Capitol Hill Thursday, defended the controversial NSA phone-monitoring program. Lawmakers wondered why the program had to be top-secret.

In Gear South Carolina explores electronic license plates

South Carolina is exploring the idea of introducing electronic license plates. A company called Compliance Innovations has developed such electronic license plates utilizing ePaper technology similar to what's used on devices like the Kindle.

Briefing NSA surveillance 101: What US intelligence agencies are doing, what they know

US intelligence agencies are gathering massive amounts of US telephone calling data and social media data on both foreigners and citizens. Here are seven questions and answers about what is known so far.

Terrorism & Security Chinese cartoonists have field day with NSA revelations

The Chinese media have been particularly interesting to watch, given Edward Snowden’s decision to seek refuge in Hong Kong and China’s own history of state surveillance.

Who is Edward Snowden? Many questions remain.

In interviews Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who revealed details of the government's collection of data, has also revealed details about himself. Some question his descriptions and the facts that are known paint an unclear picture of the leaker, currently hiding in Hong Kong. 

NSA surveillance foiled 'dozens' of terror plots, agency chief says (+video)

The head of the NSA faced questions about the agency's surveillance program during congressional testimony Wednesday. He said the program has been 'critical' to national security.

Actually, Americans aren’t shrugging over NSA surveillance (+video)

Two new polls find that a majority of Americans disapprove of the NSA's data-mining programs. The head of the NSA says he's ready to provide evidence they've helped prevent terrorist attacks. 

The Monitor's View More light on the NSA

Some government actions must be clandestine. But US citizens are being told so little about government spying on them that they lack the information they need to have an informed opinion about it.

PRISM reports prompt tech giants to push for transparency

As fury over PRISM mounts, Google, Facebook, and other tech companies are asking the government for permission to disclose information about secret national security requests they have received. Google insists it has 'nothing to hide' from its users.

Global News Blog US-bashing TV station gives interview to its benefactor, Vladimir Putin

The Kremlin reportedly gives Russia Today about $300 million annually. The satellite channel finds the decline of the West lurking in almost every daily headline.

Google tries to debunk 'myths' of PRISM

Google asked the Obama administration to allow disclosure of details about the US government's demands for its metadata. 

Chapter & Verse NSA revelations trigger a spike in '1984' sales

George Orwell's dystopian classic '1984' has experienced a sales surge since the National Security Agency's surveillance program has been in the headlines.

Backchannels Americans say they are pretty comfortable with expanded government surveillance (+video)

The new polling from Pew suggests that the latest leaks aren't likely to change policy.

Opinion Solution to NSA overreach – put people in charge of their own data

Massive US surveillance of phone records and Internet data disclosed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden should prompt a public debate on the balance between privacy and the use of personal data. A 'new deal on data' should put people in charge of their own communication. 

UK did not use PRISM to dodge British law, says Hague

The British foreign minister told Parliament today that all data used by British intelligence complied with the law, even that supplied by the controversial NSA surveillance program, PRISM.

Decoder Wire Edward Snowden: How much trouble is he in for leaks of NSA snooping?

Prosecutors would certainly pursue mishandling of intelligence and possibly espionage charges that could result in decades of prison time. But the first US challenge is to get Edward Snowden in custody.

Backchannels Will NSA leaks wake us from our techno-utopian dream?

A vast surveillance state is being made possible by the technologies that we were told would liberate us.

How do Americans feel about NSA surveillance? Ambivalent

When terrorists strike, intelligence agencies are faulted for failure to 'connect the dots.' If that's what the NSA is trying to do with its mass surveillance of phone records and Internet use, how do Americans feel about that?

Internet spying: what firms' denials really mean

Internet spying claims prompts carefully worded denials from Google, Facebook, and others. The companies say they're not voluntarily handing over data to the government, but leave open the possibility that the government has used their data for massive Internet spying.