Privacy advocates are sounding the alarm over a move by the Trump administration to reauthorize a highly controversial National Security Agency (NSA) program for collecting domestic calls and text messages. The program was established in 2001 under the Patriot Act to collect metadata on electric communications that could in theory make it easier for the agency to track down terrorists.
Earlier this year, the NSA actually advised the government to abolish this controversial form of mass surveillance that was brought to light by Edward Snowden’s 2013 revelations. But last week, on his last day in office, US Director of national intelligence Dan Coats told the heads of two senate committees in a letter that the program needs to be reauthorized together with all other provisions of the USA Freedom Act.
Read more: Trump Administration Moves To Reauthorize NSA’s Controversial Spying Program
