In a surprising turn of events, the US National Security Agency (NSA) has advised the Trump administration to abolish its controversial surveillance program for domestic calls and text messages.
The program was established in 2001 under the Patriot Act to collect metadata on electric communications that could in theory make it easier for the agency to track down terrorists. The Patriot Act was a controversial piece of legislation from the start and Edward Snowden’s 2013 revelations of mass surveillance by the NSA were followed by a new wave criticism of the Patriot Act and the various NSA programs it legitimized. In response, legislators eventually adopted the USA Freedom Act in 2015, which aims to restrict mass surveillance by federal agencies. Eighteen years after its inception, the program now seems to have finally run its course, especially because the NSA hasn’t even made use of it in months.
Read more: NSA reportedly recommends retiring phone surveillance program
