NSA Tightens Data Access Rules

In the wake of Edward Snowden's leaks

The National Security Agency has tightened the rules and procedures governing insiders' access to data after contract technician Edward J. Snowden stole a still-unknown number of electronic documents from the NSA computer systems he administered, two top Pentagon officials said Thursday. 

One of the officials, NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander, said that he was open to the idea of allowing telephone companies, rather than his agency, store the huge database of records that NSA collects every day from Americans' phone calls.

"I think it's something we should consider," Alexander said, adding that it might help tamp down fears that his agency is invading Americans' privacy.