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NSA: We Mulled Ending Phone Program Before Edward Snowden Leaks

Posted by samzenpus on from the we-meant-to-do-that dept.

Mark Wilson writes Edward Snowden is heralded as both a hero and villain. A privacy vigilante and a traitor. It just depends who you ask. The revelations he made about the NSA's surveillance programs have completely changed the face of online security, and changed the way everyone looks at the internet and privacy. But just before the whistle was blown, it seems that the NSA was considering bringing its telephone data collection program to an end. Intelligence officials were, behind the scenes, questioning whether the benefits of gathering counter-terrorism information justified the colossal costs involved. Then Snowden went public and essentially forced the agency's hand.

3 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Not everyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Or those who thought the US intelligence agencies were following the constitution.

    It was suspected, but even most of the people who were considered tin foil mad hatters were lowballing the amount of surveillance.

  2. Re: Not everyone by bhcompy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Err, not the only force. Revolution works pretty well on occasion, too.

  3. Re: Not everyone by twitnutttt · · Score: 5, Informative

    Intelligence officials were, behind the scenes, questioning whether the benefits of gathering counter-terrorism information justified the colossal costs involved. Then Snowden went public and essentially forced the agency's hand.

    Forced their hand? Last time I checked, they are: 1) still operating the program, and 2) tenaciously defending it.

    For shame!