NSA collects millions of text messages daily in 'untargeted' global sweep

The National Security Agency has collected almost 200 million text messages a day from across the globe, using them to extract data including location, contact networks and credit card details, according to top-secret documents.

The untargeted collection and storage of SMS messages – including their contacts – is revealed in a joint investigation between the Guardian and the UK’s Channel 4 News based on material provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The documents also reveal the UK spy agency GCHQ has made use of the NSA database to search the metadata of “untargeted and unwarranted” communications belonging to people in the UK.

The NSA program, codenamed Dishfire, collects “pretty much everything it can”, according to GCHQ documents, rather than merely storing the communications of existing surveillance targets.

The NSA has made extensive use of its vast text message database to extract information on people’s travel plans, contact books, financial transactions and more – including of individuals under no suspicion of illegal activity.

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Iron Yank said:

Welcome to the Obama Authoritarian police state, to go along with the NSA spying we also have drones spying, we have smartmeters, we will have black boxes on our cars. We have police depts with armoured cars. We also have an open border with any type of criminal element or terrorist able to walk rith in. And if Obama & the progressive statists have there way you wont have a gun to defend yourself as well. Welcome to utopia!

This NSA thing though is very disturbing. How could we ever have a fair election again with the incumbant able to spy on virtually anyone including his political opponents. If the dear leader can spy on European leaders why not any potential Republican or Independent candidates? Whos to stop them?

Click to expand...

Iron Yank said:

Welcome to the Obama Authoritarian police state, to go along with the NSA spying we also have drones spying, we have smartmeters, we will have black boxes on our cars. We have police depts with armoured cars. We also have an open border with any type of criminal element or terrorist able to walk rith in. And if Obama & the progressive statists have there way you wont have a gun to defend yourself as well. Welcome to utopia!

This NSA thing though is very disturbing. How could we ever have a fair election again with the incumbant able to spy on virtually anyone including his political opponents. If the dear leader can spy on European leaders why not any potential Republican or Independent candidates? Whos to stop them?

Click to expand...