Veteran D.C. Attorney: ‘Without Edward Snowden, Our System Could Have Failed’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig May 10, 2015 The efforts to reform the way the U.S. government gathers intelligence indicate that the whistleblower's disclosures "have had the impact that motivated him,” writes Ronald Goldfarb, who served in the Justice Department of the Kennedy administration, at Time magazine. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bulk NSA Phone Surveillance Exposed by Edward Snowden Ruled Illegal (Video)

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig May 7, 2015 The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the mass collection of telephone metadata unlawful in a landmark decision that provides a foothold for a full legal challenge to the National Security Agency. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bill Intended to Rein In NSA Spying Retains Significant Powers

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Apr 24, 2015 Modifications to the USA Freedom Act made on behalf of the National Security Agency permit officials to warrantlessly monitor foreign targets in the U.S. and track certain domestic individuals. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ex-Lobbyists for Spies Are Overseeing Government Spying

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Apr 11, 2015 Increasingly, the task of overseeing the National Security Agency is going to former lobbyists for NSA contractors and other intelligence community insiders. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Spying a Difference Among Democrats in ‘Silicon Beach’ Congressional Race

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig May 31, 2014 To evaluate contenders for Rep Henry Waxman's seat, I looked at an issue that is central to American life today: domestic spying by the federal government Henry Waxman's seat, I took an issue central to American life today: domestic spying by the federal government. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Sen. Rand Paul on Obama’s NSA Speech: ‘A for Effort … C for Content’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jan 17, 2014 Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul sharply criticized President Obama's speech on the future of bulk surveillance, saying: "The NSA cannot oversee themselves. … Really, [Obama's] not gonna fundamentally change any of this." "The NSA cannot oversee themselves," Sen. Rand Paul said of President Obama's NSA speech on Friday. "Really, [Obama's] not gonna fundamentally change any of this." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

You Can’t Opt Out: 10 NSA Myths Debunked

By Peter Van Buren, TomDispatch Jan 13, 2014 Instead of a careful examination of what the NSA does, the legality of its actions, and how effective it has been in its stated mission of protecting Americans, we increasingly have government officials or retired versions of the same demanding -- quite literally -- Edward Snowden’s head and engaging in the usual fear-mongering over 9/11. Dig deeper ( 13 Min. Read )

We Know the NSA Spies on Us — but on Whom Specifically? And Why?

BLANK Dec 29, 2013 Author Seth Rosenfeld, whose book "Subversives: The FBI's War on Student Radicals, and Reagan's Rise to Power" explored the federal government's domestic spying programs of a generation ago, calls for a new incarnation of the Church Committee to mine the extent of present-day domestic spying. But can this Congress focus on truth ahead of political spin and gamesmanship? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Taxpayer Money Used to Cover PRISM Compliance Costs

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Aug 23, 2013 Top-secret material passed to The Guardian shows that the National Security Agency paid millions of dollars to help major Internet companies such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook cover the cost of certification for participating in the PRISM surveillance program. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Julian Assange Hails Obama’s Reform Announcement

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Aug 11, 2013 The WikiLeaks founder called President Obama's announcement of plans to review the government's sweeping spying program a "victory of sorts" for fugitive NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

NSA Loophole Permits Warrantless Invasion of Americans’ Privacy

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Aug 9, 2013 Top secret documents passed to The Guardian by Edward Snowden show the National Security Agency has a "secret backdoor" into its databases that allows its agents to search U.S. citizens' email and phone calls without a warrant or other oversight. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Legislators Kept in Dark About NSA

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Aug 4, 2013 Forces within the government have repeatedly thwarted attempts by members of Congress to learn basic information about the National Security Agency and the secret court that authorizes its activities, documents provided by two House members show. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )