Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Video Archive Almanac
About Feedback Privacy Policy
About Feedback Privacy Policy
Search
U.S. News
June 26, 2019 / 7:27 PM

Documents show NSA over-collected phone data for a second time

By
Daniel Uria

June 26 (UPI) -- The National Security Agency's phone data collection program experienced a glitch that caused it to over-collect records, months after agreeing to purge records from a similar incident, according to documents released Wednesday.

The documents, obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union through a Freedom of Information Act request, showed that NSA technical analysts observed an anomaly in October that resulted in the collection of unauthorized records.

"These documents provide further evidence that the NSA has consistently been unable to operate the call detail record program within the bounds of the law," the ACLU said in a letter calling on Congress to end the program.

The documents didn't indicate how many records were improperly collected or which telecommunications provider sent the improper data, but the ACLU said the violations had a "significant impact" on privacy and civil rights and noted affected Americans weren't told of the breach.

RELATED FTC announces crackdown on groups facilitating illegal robocalls

In June of 2018, the NSA said it would eliminate nearly 700 million call detail records acquired beginning in 2015 due to technical irregularities that caused it to receive unauthorized data such as the date and time of phone calls or texts, but not their content.

After disclosing the incident, the NSA stated it had addressed the problem's root cause, prior to the second incident in October.

"The technical irregularities that led NSA to delete data last summer were identified and addressed," an NSA representative said. "Since that time, NSA identified additional data integrity and compliance concerns caused by the unique complexities of using company generated business records for intelligence purposes."

RELATED LabCorp says data breach may have exposed info of 7.7M customers

ACLU staff attorney Patrick Toomey said there is "no justification" for allowing the NSA to continue the program.

"These documents further confirm that this surveillance program is beyond redemption and a privacy and civil liberties disaster," Toomey said. "The NSA's collection of Americans' call records is too sweeping, the compliance problems too many and evidence of the program's value all but nonexistent."

RELATED Senate report: U.S. gov't has failed to fix cybersecurity weaknesses
  • Topics
  • Technology

Latest Headlines

House Democrats rebuke Senate GOPs for quick impeachment trial goal
U.S. News // 59 minutes ago
House Democrats rebuke Senate GOPs for quick impeachment trial goal
Dec. 15 (UPI) -- House Democratic leaders on Sunday rebuked Republican Senate leaders who said they would work with President Donald Trump and seek to ensure a speedy impeachment trial.

Storms to bring one-two punch of wintry weather from Missouri to Maine
U.S. News // 5 hours ago
Storms to bring one-two punch of wintry weather from Missouri to Maine
Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A swath of disruptive snow and ice will stretch from the mid-Mississippi Valley through the Northeast during the first part of this week.

EF1 tornado leaves path of damage, downed power lines in Florida
U.S. News // 8 hours ago
EF1 tornado leaves path of damage, downed power lines in Florida
EF-1 tornado Saturday morning in Flagler County, Fla.

Man who slapped reporter's behind on air arrested on sexual battery charge
U.S. News // 21 hours ago
Man who slapped reporter's behind on air arrested on sexual battery charge
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Savannah, Ga., reporter Alex Bozarjian was reporting on the Enmarket Savannah Bridge Run Dec. 7 when a participating runner slapped her from behind as he ran by, interrupting her reporting.

Mother whose child was ripped from her arms by police to receive $625K settlement
U.S. News // 22 hours ago
Mother whose child was ripped from her arms by police to receive $625K settlement
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A woman whose baby was ripped from her arms by officers in New York City in 2018 is set to receive a $625,000 cash settlement from the city.

Democratic candidates address teachers, advocates in Pittsburgh education forum
U.S. News // 23 hours ago
Democratic candidates address teachers, advocates in Pittsburgh education forum
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Seven Democratic presidential candidates addressed a crowd of 1,000 educators and school advocates at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., Saturday.

FBI recovers white van belonging to Jersey City shooting suspect
U.S. News // 1 day ago
FBI recovers white van belonging to Jersey City shooting suspect
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The FBI has recovered a white van authorities say belonged to one of the suspects in the Tuesday shootings at a kosher grocery store and a cemetery in Jersey City, N.J.

Joe Biden announces gun safety plan on anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting
U.S. News // 1 day ago
Joe Biden announces gun safety plan on anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his gun safety proposals Saturday, the seventh anniversary of the fatal shooting of 20 first graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut.

Appeals court blocks Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban
U.S. News // 1 day ago
Appeals court blocks Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court ruled against Mississippi's law banning abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy more than a year after the governor signed it into law.

Judge orders Wisconsin to purge over 200,000 from voter rolls
U.S. News // 1 day ago
Judge orders Wisconsin to purge over 200,000 from voter rolls
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A judge has ordered the state of Wisconsin to kick more than 200,000 people off voter rolls before the 2020 presidential election after a lawsuit filed last month by a conservative law firm arguing they may have moved.

Trending Stories

Mother whose child was ripped from her arms by police to receive $625K settlement
Mother whose child was ripped from her arms by police to receive $625K settlement
Man who slapped reporter's behind on air arrested on sexual battery charge
Man who slapped reporter's behind on air arrested on sexual battery charge
6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines
6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines
FBI recovers white van belonging to Jersey City shooting suspect
FBI recovers white van belonging to Jersey City shooting suspect
Democratic candidates address teachers, advocates in Pittsburgh education forum
Democratic candidates address teachers, advocates in Pittsburgh education forum

Photo Gallery

 
Adam Sandler, The Weeknd attend premiere of 'Uncut Gems' in LA
Adam Sandler, The Weeknd attend premiere of 'Uncut Gems' in LA

Latest News

House Democrats rebuke Senate GOPs for quick impeachment trial goal
Film inspiration James 'Radio' Kennedy dead at 73
Rangers acquire two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in trade with Indians
Actress Anna Karina dead at 79
China suspends tariffs on U.S. goods after trade agreement
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy