A leak reported by the Guardian yesterday has revealed yet further information on the extent of the US National Security Agency’s worldwide surveillance operations. The leaks, provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden, indicate that NSA analysts have been permitted near-unrestricted access to vast databases of ’emails, online chats and the browsing histories of millions of individuals’. This includes data relating to citizens worldwide, including Australia. The newly released slides are explicit in naming Australia, and prove that Australian spy agencies are recipents of information collected by this program[1].
Training materials for the program, called XKeyscore, describe how databases can be mined by filling in a simple electronic form, providing only a minimal justification for the search. The Guardian reports that the form is not reviewed by a court or any NSA personnel before it is processed. The program collects nearly everything a typical Internet user does. The lack of legal or political oversight means this could be used on anyone in this country with no real justification. This suggests that Australian agencies have full access to our most private communications. Currenty there has been no formal public debate, announcements or acknowlegement from the government.
“Iām appalled by this latest revelation,” said Qld lead Senate candidate Melanie Thomas. “Not only is the NSA conducting a clandestine, warrantless surveillance program under the guise of the PATRIOT Act, but we now know that an NSA operator can uncover the most private communications by simply completing an electronic form. This is an outrageous abuse of civil liberties and totally negates the premise of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ In fact, it reverses this legally recognised concept and criminalises everybody. Everyone is a suspect in the eyes of the NSA.”