The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting the telephone records of millions of Verizon Communications customers under a secret court order issued in April, according to a report by The (U.K.) Guardian.
To read the order obtained by the British publication in full, click here.
The U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) granted the order to the FBI on April 25, giving the U.S. government unlimited authority to access the data for a three-month period ending on July 19. The data Verizon is required to provide includes the numbers of both sides of a call along with location data, call duration and the time of the call but the contents of the conversation are not covered.
Citing the order, The Guardian’s report said Verizon is required on an “ongoing, daily basis” to give the NSA data on all phone calls in network within the United States and between the United States and other countries. Thus, the records of millions of Americans are being collected indiscriminately and in bulk – regardless of whether they are suspected of a crime.
Thus, the records covered by the order enable the U.S. government to know the identity of every person with whom an individual communicates via Verizon, how long they spoke, and their location at the time of the communication. This is extremely troubling for anyone concerned about civil liberties.
Additionally, the court order expressly bars Verizon from disclosing to the public either the existence of the FBI’s request for its customers’ records, or even order itself.
The Guardian said the White House and the Department of Justice declined to comment for its story. The National Security Agency also had no immediate comment and Verizon spokesman Ed McFadden has declined to comment as well.
This is yet another example of domestic spying in the name of national security that has occurred since 9/11 under both the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and it comes in the wake of revelations that Obama’s Justice Department secretly spied on reporters at the Associated Press and FoxNews.
Amy Lazenby is the editor of FITS’ “Liberty Desk,” which devotes itself to the protection and promotion of individual liberty. She is a wife, mother of three and small business owner with her husband who splits her time between South Carolina and Georgia. Follow her on Twitter @Mrs_Laz.
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52 comments
The headline is spot on. LOL Funny. Good Read. Very little opinion and lots of facts. Plus the opinion provided is accurate (or was when I read it.) and not full of libitard whining.
Good article Lazenby. More articles written like this will be appreciated.
Just in time for the new NSA Director, DIRNSA Rice. BTW, what ever happened to the request for FITSNews IP addresses many moons ago? Did he comply to that order? Did he rat us all out?
Hi, Thomas. Yes, multiple reporters and bloggers from multiple media outlets have used that same set of facts in articles about this issue today, as your search shoes. We use them because they are the set of relevant facts that are pulled from the FISC order that The Guardian obtained. Reporting on those facts in no way shows bias on the part of the writer.
As to whether I am “plugged in with the DNC” – no, I am not. If you have noticed any “pattern” in my work, then it has to do with my syntax and writing style, nothing more. Thank you for reading. – ABL
Amy, “as your research shoes” should be “as your research shows.”
Ha! Thank you. Typing quickly on my phone and failed to correct the auto correction. I will make the edit to “as your search shows.”
I thought she was paying secret homage to the Founding/Sic Editor.
:)
sure, if you said so, yea, right.
The headline is funny, but it’s not accurate.
The headline is spot on. LOL Funny. Good Read. Very little opinion and lots of facts. Plus the opinion provided is accurate (or was when I read it.) and not full of libitard whining.
Good article Lazenby. More articles written like this will be appreciated.
Just in time for the new NSA Director, DIRNSA Rice. BTW, what ever happened to the request for FITSNews IP addresses many moons ago? Did he comply to that order? Did he rat us all out?
It appears Amy is plugged in with the DNC. A newstory appears, a talking points memo is emailed, bloggers write it up according to the talking points, it is published. I have noticed a pattern in the last 4-5 “articles” Amy wrote. Entire sections are word for word in similar articles, often associated with progressive blogs.
For example, this section of her article and the googled search results:
The U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) granted the order to the FBI on April 25, giving the U.S. government unlimited authority to access the data for a three-month period ending on July 19. The data Verizon is required to provide includes the numbers of both sides of a call along with location data, call duration and the time of the call but the contents of the conversation are not covered.
https://www.google.com/search?q=The+U.S.+Foreign+Intelligence+Surveillance+Court+(FISC)+granted+the+order+to+the+FBI+on%C2%A0April+25%2C+giving+the+U.S.+government+unlimited+authority+to+access+the+data+for+a+three-month+period+ending+on%C2%A0July+19.%C2%A0The+data+Verizon+is+required+to+provide+includes+the+numbers+of+both+sides+of+a+call+along+with+location+data%2C+call+duration+and+the+time+of+the+call+but+the+contents+of+the+conversation+are+not+covered.&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS525US525&aq=f&oq=The+U.S.+Foreign+Intelligence+Surveillance+Court+(FISC)+granted+the+order+to+the+FBI+on%C2%A0April+25%2C+giving+the+U.S.+government+unlimited+authority+to+access+the+data+for+a+three-month+period+ending+on%C2%A0July+19.%C2%A0The+data+Verizon+is+required+to+provide+includes+the+numbers+of+both+sides+of+a+call+along+with+location+data%2C+call+duration+and+the+time+of+the+call+but+the+contents+of+the+conversation+are+not+covered.&aqs=chrome.0.57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Hi, Thomas. Yes, multiple reporters and bloggers from multiple media outlets have used that same set of facts in articles about this issue today, as your search shows. We use them because they are the set of relevant facts that are pulled from the FISC order that The Guardian obtained. Reporting on those facts in no way shows bias on the part of the writer.
As to whether I am “plugged in with the DNC” – no, I am not. I am a skeptical liberal. If you have noticed any “pattern” in my work, then it has to do with my syntax and writing style, nothing more. Thank you for reading. – ABL
Amy, “as your research shoes” should be “as your research shows.”
Ha! Thank you. Typing quickly on my phone and failed to correct the auto correction. I will make the edit to “as your search shows.”
I thought she was paying secret homage to the Founding/Sic Editor.
:)
I doubt it.
The headline is funny, but it’s not accurate.
These are what are sometimes known in the business as call detail records. Pretty wide net cast, but this does not include recordings or scanning the contents of the calls. I’d really love to know the parameters of the automated voice recognition key word searching that is done. Who are they listening to (purely domestic and/or foreign callers), what court orders and oversights are in place, when a key word is triggered what happens next? I guess we’ll have to wait for some UK news organization to find that out too.
This type of metadata – who you’re calling and from where – can reveal personal and political associations, medical conditions, and religious associations. All of this information is being gathered from citizens who are making domestic calls and are not suspected of committing a crime.
The order that The Guardian uncovered is only related to Verizon, but it is also possible (and not unreasonable to suspect, given recent domestic spying events) that similar orders exist for other mobile phone carriers as well as internet providers. We cannot know unless another order is unearthed because these providers are barred in the orders from disclosing the fact that the order exists.
This amounts to a fishing expedition by the federal government.
Sure does. They’re just trying to protect us. They have our best interests in mind. Submit. Give them access to all information. Give them more money to do it. Thank you, Dear Leader, for making us safe.
These are what are sometimes known in the business as call detail records. Pretty wide net cast, but this does not include recordings or scanning the contents of the calls. I’d really love to know the parameters of the automated voice recognition key word searching that is done. Who are they listening to (purely domestic and/or foreign callers), what court orders and oversights are in place, when a key word is triggered what happens next? I guess we’ll have to wait for some UK news organization to find that out too.
This type of metadata – who you’re calling and from where – can reveal personal and political associations, medical conditions, and religious associations. All of this information is being gathered from citizens who are making domestic calls and are not suspected of committing a crime.
The order that The Guardian uncovered is only related to Verizon, but it is also possible (and not unreasonable to suspect, given recent domestic spying events) that similar orders exist for other mobile phone carriers as well as internet providers. We cannot know unless another order is unearthed because these providers are barred in the orders from disclosing the fact that the order exists.
This amounts to a fishing expedition by the federal government.
Sure does. They’re just trying to protect us. They have our best interests in mind. Submit. Give them access to all information. Give them more money to do it. Thank you, Dear Leader, for making us safe.
Update: “The Obama administration and key U.S. lawmakers on Thursday defended a National Security Agency program that apparently has collected the telephone records of tens of millions of American customers of Verizon, one of the nation’s largest phone companies, under a top-secret court order.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/administration-lawmakers-defend-nsa-program-to-collect-phone-records/2013/06/06/2a56d966-ceb9-11e2-8f6b-67f40e176f03_story.html?hpid=z1)
I turned my phone off last month. Fuck’em. I’ll stay off that grid.
Update: “The Obama administration and key U.S. lawmakers on Thursday defended a National Security Agency program that apparently has collected the telephone records of tens of millions of American customers of Verizon, one of the nation’s largest phone companies, under a top-secret court order.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/administration-lawmakers-defend-nsa-program-to-collect-phone-records/2013/06/06/2a56d966-ceb9-11e2-8f6b-67f40e176f03_story.html?hpid=z1)
I turned my phone off last month. Fuck’em. I’ll stay off that grid.
This is really, really bad for Obama. The timing on this couldn’t have been worse. The GOP base will have yet another LEGITIMATE reason to get animated in time for the midterms, and the Dem base is getting yet more data that Obama is at best Bush Lite on national security/civil liberties. With all the scandals, it’s hard to see much downside to this for us. Should be a fun 6 months. Popcorn: ready.
This is really, really bad for Obama. The timing on this couldn’t have been worse. The GOP base will have yet another LEGITIMATE reason to get animated in time for the midterms, and the Dem base is getting yet more data that Obama is at best Bush Lite on national security/civil liberties. With all the scandals, it’s hard to see much downside to this for us. Should be a fun 6 months. Popcorn: ready.
I really wish the citizens of this country would wake the $&%^&% up and see what is going on…this is absolutely atrocious.
Good article Amy!
I really wish the citizens of this country would wake the $&%^&% up and see what is going on…this is absolutely atrocious.
Good article Amy!
We are all using Obamaphones now.
We are all using Obamaphones now.
A Letter to Verizon Customers
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — Today, President Obama issued the following letter to all Verizon customers:
Dear Verizon Customers,
Yesterday it came to light that the National Security Agency has been collecting millions of phone records from you each and every day. Since that news was released, many of you have called the White House with questions and concerns about this new program. To save my time and yours, here are answers to three of the F.A.Q.s (Frequently Asked Questions) we’ve been hearing from you:
1. Will I be charged extra for this service?
I’m happy to say that the answer is no. While the harvesting and surveillance of your domestic phone calls were not a part of your original Verizon service contract, the National Security Agency is providing this service entirely free of charge.
2. If I add a phone to my account, will those calls also be monitored?
Once again, the answer is good news. If you want to add a child or any other family member to your Verizon account, their phone calls — whom they called, when, and the duration of the call — will all be monitored by the United States government, at no additional cost.
3. Can the National Security Agency help me understand my Verizon bill?
Unfortunately, no. The National Security Agency has tried, but failed, to understand Verizon’s bills. Pease call Verizon customer service and follow the series of electronic prompts.
I hope I’ve helped clear up some of the confusion about this exciting new program. But if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to call the White House. Joe Biden is standing by.
God bless America,
President Obama
A Letter to Verizon Customers
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — Today, President Obama issued the following letter to all Verizon customers:
Dear Verizon Customers,
Yesterday it came to light that the National Security Agency has been collecting millions of phone records from you each and every day. Since that news was released, many of you have called the White House with questions and concerns about this new program. To save my time and yours, here are answers to three of the F.A.Q.s (Frequently Asked Questions) we’ve been hearing from you:
1. Will I be charged extra for this service?
I’m happy to say that the answer is no. While the harvesting and surveillance of your domestic phone calls were not a part of your original Verizon service contract, the National Security Agency is providing this service entirely free of charge.
2. If I add a phone to my account, will those calls also be monitored?
Once again, the answer is good news. If you want to add a child or any other family member to your Verizon account, their phone calls — whom they called, when, and the duration of the call — will all be monitored by the United States government, at no additional cost.
3. Can the National Security Agency help me understand my Verizon bill?
Unfortunately, no. The National Security Agency has tried, but failed, to understand Verizon’s bills. Pease call Verizon customer service and follow the series of electronic prompts.
I hope I’ve helped clear up some of the confusion about this exciting new program. But if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to call the White House. Joe Biden is standing by.
God bless America,
President Obama
That’s a funny headline, but it’s not accurate. The data the NSA requested from Verizon does not contain anything about the content of the calls. The government isn’t actually listening.
That’s a funny headline, but it’s not accurate. The data the NSA requested from Verizon does not contain anything about the content of the calls. The government isn’t actually listening.
I have to call BS on “this is yet another example of domestic spying in the name of national security that has occurred since 9/11 under both the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.”
I’m not a fan of what either has done. But, at least the Obama administration followed the law and got the data via FISA. The Bush camp refused to follow the law and acted without an order from any judge.
FISA was originally intended for the collection of “foreign intelligence information” between “foreign powers” and “agents of foreign powers” (which could include American citizens suspected of espionage or terrorism), but it has been repeatedly amended and extended since 9/11 in the name of national security.
Your statement indicates that you are okay with those extensions of FISA. I am not. The data collection here is from people who are not even suspected of espionage or terrorism. It compromises our Fourth Amendment protections in ways that I cannot accept. That the Bush administration acted without an order was undeniably wrong, but acting within the scope of FISA does not make the Obama administration’s actions in this matter any less of an infringement on civil liberties.
The Washington Post has just revealed that the NSA and FBI have been mining data from 9 U.S. internet companies in a broad secret program called PRISM: http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/us-intelligence-mining-data-from-nine-us-internet-companies-in-broad-secret-program/2013/06/06/3a0c0da8-cebf-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html
Good God.
And check out how many FISA warrant requests were turned down last year. I’ll give you a hint, it starts with 0.
I have to call BS on “this is yet another example of domestic spying in the name of national security that has occurred since 9/11 under both the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.”
I’m not a fan of what either has done. But, at least the Obama administration followed the law and got the data via FISA. The Bush camp refused to follow the law and acted without an order from any judge.
FISA was originally intended for the collection of “foreign intelligence information” between “foreign powers” and “agents of foreign powers” (which could include American citizens suspected of espionage or terrorism), but it has been repeatedly amended and extended since 9/11 in the name of national security.
Your statement indicates that you are okay with those extensions of FISA. I am not. The data collection here is from people who are not even suspected of espionage or terrorism. It compromises our Fourth Amendment protections in ways that I cannot accept. That the Bush administration acted without an order was undeniably wrong, but acting within the scope of FISA does not make the Obama administration’s actions in this matter any less of an infringement on civil liberties.
The Washington Post has just revealed that the NSA and FBI have been mining data from 9 U.S. internet companies in a broad secret program called PRISM: http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/us-intelligence-mining-data-from-nine-us-internet-companies-in-broad-secret-program/2013/06/06/3a0c0da8-cebf-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html
Good God.
And check out how many FISA warrant requests were turned down last year. I’ll give you a hint, it starts with 0.
Today on “Guess Who Said It?”:
“This administration also puts forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we provide. I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining the Constitution and our freedom. That means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens. No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime. No more tracking citizens who do nothing but protest a misguided war. No more ignoring the law when it is inconvenient. It is not who we are. It is not what is necessary to defeat the terrorists. The FISA Court works. The separation of powers works. Our Constitution works. We will again set an example for the world that the law is not subject to the whims of stubborn rulers and that justice is not arbitrary. This administration acts like violating civil liberties is the way to enhance our security. It is not. There are no short cuts to protecting America.”
I’ll give you three guesses. :)
Barack Obama
Today on “Guess Who Said It?”:
“This administration also puts forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we provide. I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining the Constitution and our freedom. That means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens. No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime. No more tracking citizens who do nothing but protest a misguided war. No more ignoring the law when it is inconvenient. It is not who we are. It is not what is necessary to defeat the terrorists. The FISA Court works. The separation of powers works. Our Constitution works. We will again set an example for the world that the law is not subject to the whims of stubborn rulers and that justice is not arbitrary. This administration acts like violating civil liberties is the way to enhance our security. It is not. There are no short cuts to protecting America.”
I’ll give you three guesses. :)
Barack Obama
Can’t happen here can it you delusional left wing trolls? Go back under your bridges where you belong.
Can’t happen here can it you delusional left wing trolls? Go back under your bridges where you belong.