20 Jul NSA Suspected to be Rerouting US Internet Traffic to Aid Surveillance
Last Tuesday, a report found that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) may be deflecting internet traffic outside the country to circumvent surveillance laws. The findings were based on the examination of documents exposed by former intelligence employee Edward Snowden.
Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the NSA is permitted to collect and review communications from foreigners overseas. However, once U.S. internet traffic is deflected outside the country, it is no longer protected by the law. NSA can abuse this limitation and employ warrantless collection of information.
Rerouting internet activity overseas is known as traffic shaping. The data from 2007 exposed by Snowden details how this process works, showing how internet activity can be deflected to other countries using underwater optic lines.
To date, legislators can vote to limit the Trump administration’s comprehensive mass surveillance plans, but they don’t seem enthusiastic about supporting reforms to the law.
Source: Deep Dot Web
