UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

AI Summary:
Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked classified documents in 2013 that revealed the extent of the National Security Agency's surveillance programs. The documents disclosed that the NSA was collecting data on the electronic communications of both US citizens and foreign nationals. A significant portion of the intercepted data, estimated at 90%, was from ordinary internet users, not the intended surveillance targets.
The leaked documents revealed several key surveillance programs, including PRISM, which involved the collection of data from major internet companies' servers. Another program, XKeyscore, allowed analysts to search through vast amounts of intercepted communications. Additionally, the NSA was found to be collecting metadata from phone calls, including phone numbers, call durations, and location data.
Snowden's disclosures sparked intense debate about the balance between national security and individual privacy. While some defended the programs as necessary for national security, others criticized them as a violation of privacy rights and civil liberties. The revelations also led to calls for greater transparency and oversight of government surveillance activities.
Some key points about the Snowden leaks:
Scope of Surveillance:
The NSA was collecting vast amounts of data on internet and phone communications.
Incidental Collection:
A large portion of the intercepted data was from ordinary citizens, not the intended targets.
Impact on Privacy:
The leaks raised serious concerns about the privacy of individuals' communications.
Public Debate:
The disclosures sparked public debate about the role of surveillance in a democratic society.
Calls for Reform:
There were calls for greater transparency and oversight of surveillance programs.


Link: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/07/james-clapper-apologizes-to-congress-for-clearly-erroneous-testimony