NSA collecting phone numbers: only from Verizon?

June 23, 2013 5:00 PM

I am curious as to why the NSA would only collect phone numbers from Verizon since there are so many other carriers. I have seen no other carriers mentioned in the news. Can you tell me what I'm missing here? Thanks.NSA
posted by michellenoel to Law & Government (8 answers total)

My understanding is that the first document leaked by Snowden was the agreement with Verizon. I assumed that similar arrangements are also in place for other carriers.
posted by insert.witticism.here at 5:06 PM on June 23, 2013

It is definitely not only from Verizon. If you google you'll find that definitely AT&T and the other majors are just as complicit.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:22 PM on June 23, 2013

The Verizon order was one particular document Snowden got access to while in training. You should assume there are similar documents for every carrier.
posted by Area Man at 5:23 PM on June 23, 2013

Thank you. My Googlefu had failed me.
posted by michellenoel at 5:24 PM on June 23, 2013

James Bamford: "...Bill Binney, the man who largely designed the agency’s worldwide eavesdropping system, warned of the secret, nationwide surveillance. He told how the NSA had gained access to billions of billing records not only from AT&T but also from Verizon. “That multiplies the call rate by at least a factor of five,” he said. “So you’re over a billion and a half calls a day.”"
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:10 PM on June 23, 2013

Thanks, MonkeyToes.
posted by michellenoel at 8:27 PM on June 23, 2013

The problem with the internet is the short memory. AT&T Room 641A is doing a hell of a lot more than just gathering phone numbers.

PS. every telecommunications system commercially developed includes lawful interception functions.
posted by rr at 8:33 PM on June 23, 2013

The Verizon order was one particular document Snowden got access to while in training. You should assume there are similar documents for every carrier.

Yes, this. Note that the docket number stamped on the Verizon order was 'BR 13-80', ie, order number 80 of 2013. There were at least 79 other orders made by that FISA court in 2013 alone.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:56 PM on June 23, 2013