National Security Agency
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1952 |
| Legal Structure | Government agency |
| Industry | Intelligence and counterintelligence |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://www.nsa.gov/ |
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a member of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) established in 1952. The NSA collaborates with universities, businesses, and other entities to enhance the United States' national security against both foreign and domestic threats.[citation needed] Their methods have come under national scrutiny many times, most notably in 2013 when Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the NSA's mass warrantless surveillance of the American populace post-9/11.[1]
Incidents
Purchasing illegally-obtained data
In January 2024, "NSA officials told [US Senator Ron Wyden] that not only is the intelligence agency purchasing data on Americans located in the US but that it also bought Americans' Internet metadata." Wyden also "suggested that the intelligence community might be helping data brokers violate an FTC order requiring that Americans [...] give informed consent before their data can be sold to third parties."[2]
The FTC order in question is part of a settlement with X-Mode Social, Inc. and its successor, Outlogic, LLC. The order established a precedent prohibiting data brokers from collecting and selling sensitive consumer data without the consumer's explicit consent.[3][4] Notably, this order "seems to carve out exceptions for any [location] data collected outside the US and used for either 'security purposes' or 'national security purposes conducted by federal agencies or other federal entities.'"[2]
This incident may indicate pressure from the NSA on data brokers and collectors to continue violating privacy, adopting opt-in by default practices, and engaging in user tracking.
See also
References
- ↑ "Allies concerned about privacy, want answers about US surveillance programs". NBC News. 11 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 Jul 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Belanger, Ashley (26 Jan 2024). "NSA finally admits to spying on Americans by purchasing sensitive data". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 27 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "In the Matter of X-Mode Social, Inc., a corporation, and Outlogic, LLC., a Limited Liability Company | Decision and Order" (PDF). Federal Trade Commission. (Archived)
- ↑ "FTC Finalizes Order with X-Mode and Successor Outlogic Prohibiting it from Sharing or Selling Sensitive Location Data". Federal Trade Commission. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 14 Dec 2025.