What is the government surveillance program?

According to documents leaked by Snowden, the program has existed for more than a decade. It allows analysts to use a Google-like search function across vast databases of Internet traffic captured from sites worldwide to pluck out the emails, Web browsing histories and social media activity of specific people.

What government agencies do surveillance?

Numerous government agencies—including the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and state and local law enforcement agencies—intrude upon the private communications of innocent citizens, amass vast databases of who we call and when, and catalog “suspicious …

What is the US surveillance system?

U.S. U.S. PRISM is a code name for a program under which the United States National Security Agency (NSA) collects internet communications from various U.S. internet companies. The program is also known by the SIGAD US-984XN.

Can the government spy on you legally?

A Unique Federal Court: When it comes to national security and investigation of foreign spies, the government can watch people without the protections promised by the 4th Amendment.

Why do we need government surveillance?

Surveillance is used by governments for intelligence gathering, prevention of crime, the protection of a process, person, group or object, or the investigation of crime.

What are some examples of government surveillance?

Prominent examples of surveillance include surveillance cameras, wiretaps, GPS tracking, and internet surveillance. One-way observation is in some ways an expression of control.

What is federal surveillance?

Electronic Surveillance. Overview. Electronic surveillance is defined in federal law as the nonconsensual acquisition by an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device of the contents of any wire or electronic communication, under circumstances in which a party to the communication has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

How does government surveillance work?

Surveillance allows governments and other agencies to maintain social control, recognize and monitor threats, and prevent and investigate criminal activity.