NSA Spying - What is Metadata and What Does the Law Say

NSA Spying - What is Metadata and What Does the Law Say? Technology is in everything we do from using our home refrigerator, washer, cellular device, automobile, and or computer systems. When using certain devices you pass information to others pertaining to personal and private information. This information or metadata could be a bank account or credit card number, pin, and or password that we unconsciously share. We randomly give away this information at a dentist or doctor’s office, the local liquor store, or when we visit social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Yahoo, and or Google. This information is all collected, stored, and tracked by big brother, and what are they doing with it, is the metadata being secured, American’s may never know. Disturbingly the National Security Agency (NSA) has been collecting metadata on Americans personal telephones and electronics devices for several years. This collection was happening before the NSA Analyst Edward Snowden leaked these facts to the world in late 2013. The NSA was formed in the 1950’s, and during this time frame the NSA disseminated intelligence information from electronic signals for foreign and counter intelligence purposes, which supported the American military needs. Currently the NSA has refocused their spying tactics to technology driven devices. The NSA has an extensive â€Å"telephone-metadata program, since 2001, and they collect phone records of virtually all Americans† (Lizza, 2013). Email and SocialShow MoreRelatedPursuit of Privacy and The National Security Agency1695 Words   |  7 Pageseffort to prevent any unauthorized spying on innocent civilians a court known as FISA was created in 1978 to regulate the NSA. Up until the events of September 11th, 2001, the NSA was used strictly as a tool for foreign investigation to decipher international communications (â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions About NSA† 1). Twenty-three days after the Twin Towers fell, President Bush passed the Patriot Act (â€Å"Timeline of NSA Domestic Spying† 16). This act ushered the NSA into a position of limitless capabilityRead MoreThe Use Of Mass Surveillance On Civilians Conducted By The Members Of The Five Eyes Program1335 Words   |  6 Pagesreasons as to why this is true. I will confront the objections claiming that such surveillance is legal by proving that it is, in fact, illegal and prove this by citing ambiguities in bureaucracy records. II. Violation of International Human Rights Law I will now argue that the mass surveillance of citizens by the participants of the Five Eyes program: The United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand is a clear violation of human rights. I will do this by demonstrating that governmentRead MoreThe NSA Surveillance Constitutionality: Edward Snowden974 Words   |  4 PagesJune 6, 2013 the details of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance activities where given by Edward Snowden to the public; raising concerns of Americans about their privacy. Edward Snowden, a former employee of the NSA, gave the alarming details of surveillance programs in his interview on how the NSA accesses our emails, calls, internet activity, and anything else that is related to technology. In this system of surveillance the NSA can gather data from companies and tap the cables that areRead MoreThe Nsa Had Committed 2776 Violations1698 Words   |  7 Pagespeople discovered that the NSA had committed 2,776 violations to the la w. 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This has provoked the publicRead MoreDigital Privacy Concerns Essay1565 Words   |  7 Pagesexpressing his acknowledgement of the issue, failed to discuss an array of other pressing dilemmas regulated by the recently exposed National Security Agency (NSA), especially those involving the mass data stockpiles and the rights of foreigners ag ainst immoderate and disproportionate surveillance by the US. Furthermore, the intentions of the NSA still remain unclear; why is the collection and the extended retention of this data useful? Those in power believe that the collection of this informationRead MoreThe Case Of Whistleblower Edward Snowden1867 Words   |  8 PagesFrom the time children can understand the concepts of what is right and what is wrong, it is instilled in them to do what is right, even if it will get them in trouble. Sadly, as those children grow up they learn the harsh reality that speaking truth to power can lead to prosecution. 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The concept of having a personal computer was once impractical because the computers were just too big for the average home, now we can just about fit them in our pockets. What happens when that kind of innovation and creativity is turned against you? What if someone else was watching you through your computer without you ever knowing? Government surveillance has always been an issue in the past, a touchy one at that; people love their privacy however with webcams