NSA Surveillance: Exploring the Geographies of Internet Interception

Clement, Andrew

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47305 Copy

Description

Title

NSA Surveillance: Exploring the Geographies of Internet Interception

Author(s)

Clement, Andrew

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• NSA surveillance
• warrantless wiretapping
• internet surveillance
• privacy

Abstract

The National Security Agency's various surveillance programs recently revealed by Edward Snowden are collectively arguably the largest personal data collection and analysis operation in history. While the foremost exemplar of a fine-grained, global information system, they also represent among the most serious contemporary challenges to democratic governance and civil liberties. Based on media coverage and leaked secret documents, this paper analyses the main NSA data interception programs and their geographic characteristics. This research also draws on IXmaps.ca, a crowd-sourced, interactive mapping application to show internet users where their personal traffic may be intercepted by the NSA. In particular, it demonstrates that internet surveillance facilities located in relatively few strategic locations enable a nearly comprehensive collection of domestic U.S. internet traffic.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47305

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14119

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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