Civil Liberties

NSA Phone Snooping Proves Controversial

This surprises officials?

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The Obama administration faces a new controversy over its national security policies after reports surfaced that the National Security Agency has broadened its eavesdropping program by routinely collecting daily customer records of phone company Verizon Communications (VZ).

While the Bush Administration stepped up surveillance after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, the Obama administration obtained a secret court order in April to enable the NSA to widen its eavesdropping program, said U.K.-based newspaper, the Guardian.

"The unlimited nature of the records being handed over to the NSA is extremely unusual," said the Guardian. Records are "being collected indiscriminately and in bulk, regardless of whether they (Verizon customers) are suspected of any wrongdoing," added the Guardian, which said it had obtained a copy of a order issued by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.