Snowden disclosures reveal NSA's bulk phone‑record collection via FISA court warrants

Snowden disclosures reveal NSA's bulk phone‑record collection via FISA court warrants The passage outlines how the NSA obtained bulk telephone billing records under FISA Section 215, citing specific dates, legal interpretations, and a court ruling that later limited the practice. It provides concrete leads—dates, statutes, court decisions, and officials (e.g., General Alexander)—that merit further investigation into the scope of the data collection, the role of telecom companies, and the impact of the USA Freedom Act. While the information is largely public, the detailed description of the legal rationale and the recent appellate decision offer actionable angles for deeper inquiry. Key insights: NSA obtained bulk Verizon billing records every three months under FISA warrants starting after 9/11.; Section 215 of the Patriot Act was interpreted to allow “relevant” bulk data collection.; General Alexander is quoted as advocating a “haystack” approach to data collection.