Ethics

NSA Wiretapping: More of the Same

By Ed Brayton

The New York Times reports that Obama officials found illegal aspects to the NSA wiretapping program when they entered office and began to review the program:

Several intelligence officials, as well as lawyers briefed about the matter, said the N.S.A. had been engaged in "overcollection" of domestic communications of Americans. They described the practice as significant and systemic, although one official said it was believed to have been unintentional.

The legal and operational problems surrounding the N.S.A.'s surveillance activities have come under scrutiny from the Obama administration, Congressional intelligence committees and a secret national security court, said the intelligence officials, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because N.S.A. activities are classified. Classified government briefings have been held in recent weeks in response to a brewing controversy that some officials worry could damage the credibility of legitimate intelligence-gathering efforts.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on April 21, 2009 (boomark / email).