NSA Collecting More Data Than Ever

[doitvoluntarily]

The National Security Agency (NSA) has been engaged in spying on millions of Americans for years now, in the interest of national security.

Their phone calls, social media activity, browsing history, e-mails, and other communications, have been swept-up in an unprecedented phishing expedition. Critics have been saying for many years now that this spying apparatus violates the civil liberties and Constitutional rights of those who it supposedly is aimed to protect. That it also undermines internet security; among other concerns.

In recent years, there has been growing criticism for the spying actions that state agents have been involved in, and many have protested against the ongoing spying agenda that is aimed at millions of unsuspecting Americans.

A number of companies have been in the media for their failure or willingness to hand over sensitive user information to the NSA, to comply with their surveillance objectives. The chief legal officer from Google, David Drummond, at one point had previously commented that they were outraged over the actions that the state has taken in the past to try and intercept data on users.

Various political figures and other critics of the unprecedented spying agenda, have been working hard to push for reform when it comes to the spying. And they've been working on that for several years now, with legislation like the USA Freedom Act which was supposedly aimed at trying to curb the vast surveillance web that's been established.

The NSA has allegedly admitted in the past that they're guilty of violating certain restraints and various surveillance limits that have been placed on them, but those violations were said to be unintentional. Many might be surprised to find out that they are still spying to the extent at which they are currently.

In 2016, it's estimated that the NSA collected over 150+ million phone records of US citizens and last year alone, they harvested over 530+ million phone calls and text messages.

After the various revelations came to light about the spying that was taking place, and the lies about it that were being told to the public, no doubt there were many who thought that perhaps eventually there might be a restraint placed on that sort of behavior.

But if millions of Americans are still having their information harvested then it doesn't look like that is the case.

530 million records is a lot of data, considering that for 2017 the surveillance court had only allegedly granted approval for the wiretapping about 1,337 people. If millions of Americans are still having their information harvested, despite authorities not having the traditionally appropriate warrant to authorize them to do so, then it seems to still violate their basic natural rights that are supposed to be protected via the Constitution. Does the supposed threat really justify this extensive spying that has been going on for years, sweeping up the data of millions of people? I don't think so. The spying erodes liberty for those who are having their information harvested and chipping away at the liberty of Americans isn't going to make them safe.

Sources:
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/04/the-nsa-isnt-just-spying-on-us-its-also-undermining-internet-security/457038/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-security-google/nsa-intercepts-google-yahoo-traffic-overseas-report-idUSBRE99T18S20131030
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/31/nsa-top-secret-program-online-data
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/05/the-last-defenders-for-the-phone-dragnet/393581/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-security-google/nsa-intercepts-google-yahoo-traffic-overseas-report-idUSBRE99T18S20131030
https://steemit.com/news/@doitvoluntarily/nsa-still-engaging-in-bulk-data-collection-despite-legal-efforts-to-curb-mass-surveillance
https://theintercept.com/2015/07/01/nsas-google-worlds-private-communications/
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/04/us/politics/nsa-surveillance-2017-annual-report.html
http://fortune.com/2017/06/09/nsa-backtracks-warrantless-spying/

Comments

[techwizardry]

"Does the supposed threat really justify this extensive spying that has been going on for years, sweeping up the data of millions of people? I don't think so."

You need a bogeyman somewhere in the world so the funding for these agencies continues to flow from Congress!

[kiefpreston.com]

This shit is scary. It's nuts how so many books and movies from the 20th century predicted this exact scenario. Thanks for the detailed post @doitvoluntarily

[karenmckersie]

Thanks for sharing this information @doitvoluntarily ! the public is constantly being lied to about everything really !! so much data harvested , its crazy ! upped earlier now resteemed !👍👍👍💕

[jlufer]

It is incredible that this happens and lopeor of everything is that they never find people who are doing things wrong, it is inadmissible that this continue happening, violate human rights without positive results, is shameless.
Many thanks dear friend @doitvoluntarily for sharing this information
I wish you a beautiful Sunday

[ekaputri]

good information, thank you for sharing information with us.
useful postings.

[jerryt]

Good post, these fuckers quit following the rules of law a long time ago. I figure we can either dwell on it, or live however you choose and be free. Sure everyone's definition is different, I guess the real decision comes down to how many of their laws one decides to follow.

[luiggih]

Facebook likes this post and collecting data.

[cbeep]

Knowledgeable post thanks .keep it up mate.

[nahus]

That is insane amount of data collection. But, the sad part is that there is no agency which can defend rights of a human about privacy. And the agencies collecting data are so powerful that nothing can be done about it. We cannot even disconnect from internet and live. What to do about it :(

[movingman]

We cannot even disconnect from internet and live.

Come take a look at people like myself :) Im really shocked! No offense to you personally of course but I find this amazing because I live alternativly since 8 years. Maybe you were joking, is hard in written text to know :)

[nahus]

since 8 years? you mean you have changed your lifestyle? how

[movingman]

yep, I left UK in a van, with a moped, 80 pounds cash, half a tank of gas.. And my quality of life improved dramatically! I only got my first smart phone last year, and that is only used for apps!
I consume much much much less, I recycle much much more, and I learnt that the life we were told is "life" is just a big joke.. Are you in USA?

[nahus]

So much sensational to hear that. I am starting to get a glimpse how to recycle and be a smaller consumer but you know marketing.. I am in south korea, but i have been to USA a couple of times and once to UK as well.

[glorimarbolivar]

Interesting information friend good job, I support you I invite you to take a walk through my blog thanks

[moarafatshow]

This agency definitely needs to blacklisted as a terrorist agency, data collecting on people without them knowing it’s violating a person privacy and safe space.

You can’t trust anyone nowadays, because NSA have take a page out of the SS police on keeping tabs on people.

[vox00]

Sometimes I am wandering "Is there is some office on the high floor Agent Smith looking at the imaginary world"

[agaph]

[kookmin]

👍👍👍

[movingman]

I wonder if its just the USA or if it was just USA that had a "leak", what are the chances that other countrys have done the same or are able to atleast! Like here in Norway theres 6 million population so its obvious that all phones are recorded and monitored, and long gone are the years of getting anonimous pay as you go sims.. Back in the day 02 was the first biggest network in my generations in the UK, and Vodafone, and I remember it was easy to go online and give a postal address for FIVE sim cards..