A U.S. senator has revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) and other U.S. intelligence and defense organizations have been purchasing personal data from smartphone users through data brokers. This practice, which includes buying Americans' phone location data and internet metadata, has been conducted without warrants, leveraging a national security exception. The senator has called for an end to this activity, which is seen as operating outside of legal mandates and infringing on privacy rights. The issue came to light after the senator blocked the appointment of a new NSA director, prompting an admission from the spy agencies involved.
US spy agencies purchased Americans' phone location data and internet metadata without a warrant but only admitted it after a US senator blocked the appointment of a new NSA director. https://t.co/3AfObIUBRT
US Senator: NSA Needs to Stop Buying Americans' Info From Shady Data Brokers https://t.co/8r8rSA7tb0
US intelligence and defense organizations are operating outside mandates to spy on American citizens by buying a wealth of personal data through brokers, and a senator wants the practice stopped. By @Amber_M_Neely https://t.co/U69D5qlXBe
NSA buys personal data illegally-obtained from smartphone users, reveals senator https://t.co/hl1ZsB6SA9 by @benlovejoy
No surprise. Right after 9/11 Prez authorized super secret mass surveillance regime including domestic comms. Gov’t views data brokers as exempt from 4A warrants because they hold biz records & voids privacy. Gov’t buying under extra-legal NatSec exception.https://t.co/tp8B0XoQGU