The NSA Spying Scandal: 5 Things You May Not Know

No. 3: Who gives the NSA the authority to check my phones?

Photo Credit: Ben Schueddekopf

The NSA is overseen by the US Congress. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows to gather data and records on foreign spies or terrorists. In addition, some of the NSA’s actions are permitted only through a warrant awarded by a judicial panel named the FISC (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court). Reportedly, the NSA was granted authority to tap phone conversations through such a warrant, which it used to force the Verizon phone company to hand over records for every single customer.