NSA recommends White House end spying program leaked by Snowden

Image: REDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images

The NSA spying program could soon come to an end — if the White House listens to the NSA’s recommendation.

According to the , the National Security Agency is recommending that the White House abandon the agency’s metadata surveillance program, which was first brought to light by the leaks by former contractor Edward Snowden in 2013.

The program allowed for the bulk collection of data such as phone numbers and timestamps of calls and texts, but did not collect the actual content of these communications.

According to sources familiar with the surveillance program, the program has become a “logistical and legal” burden. The NSA went so far as to suspend its use earlier this year after already how expansive its data collecting practices were.

The NSA faced difficulties managing the program after the passing of the 2015 USA Freedom Act, which required that the agency transition to a system in which the telecommunication companies retained the phone records.

Sources say that the issues the NSA faced due to this controversial mass collection of Americans’ phone call and text message information “outweigh its intelligence benefits.” 

This is a stark change of tune from the NSA. When the documents detailing the NSA program leaked and set off a debate about the surveillance state, the agency publicly argued that the surveillance program was necessary to fighting terrorists and keeping the country safe. However, to former intelligence officials, there was “skepticism” with in the agency itself over the spying program even before its details were leaked to the public.

Civil rights groups remain skeptical of the NSA’s recommendation. In a statement, the ACLU said this was “far from enough.” ACLU senior legislative counsel Neema Singh Guliani went on in an email, “Congress must fully reform these authorities to prevent large-scale collection of information and unfair targeting of journalists, minorities, and vulnerable communities.”

The legal authority for the NSA to run the spying program expires in December. Congress has previously renewed the program with support from the White House.

While the NSA can make recommendations, the final decision on whether to push for legislation to renew the spying program lies with the Trump administration.