In a surprising revelation, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has released documents confirming that the National Security Agency (NSA) purchases Americans’ internet records, including information on the websites they visit and the apps they use. Senator Wyden has called on the administration to ensure that intelligence agencies stop buying personal data obtained illegally from data brokers. The government’s involvement in this shady industry raises ethical and legal concerns. It is puzzling why the NSA needs to buy data it can already obtain through its extensive surveillance apparatus. Senator Wyden is urging intelligence agencies to adopt a policy that aligns with the FTC’s standards for legal data sales. The secrecy surrounding these data purchases highlights intelligence agencies’ attempts to keep the American people uninformed. Senator Wyden requests an investigation into these data transactions and the practices of data brokers. The NSA’s admission to purchasing domestic internet browser records further exposes its domestic surveillance practices. Allowing such actions to become the norm is concerning and should not be accepted by the American public.
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/01/29/well-thats-everyone-senator-wyden-letter-confirms-the-nsa-is-buying-us-persons-data-from-data-brokers/