NEJAN's Blog

In the realm of internet surveillance, few tools have garnered as much attention and controversy as XKeyscore. Developed by the National Security Agency of USA (NSA), XKeyscore is a powerful data collection and analysis system designed to sift through vast amounts of internet traffic, allowing analysts to search and monitor online communications with unprecedented ease. Let's delve deeper into what XKeyscore entails and its implications for privacy and civil liberties. Understanding XKeyscore XKeyscore operates as a sophisticated search engine that grants NSA analysts access to an extensive database of internet activities, including emails, online chats, browsing histories, and more. It allows analysts to conduct searches using various selectors such as email addresses, IP addresses, keywords, and even specific phrases or patterns of behavior. One of the key features of XKeyscore is its ability to perform "full-take" collection, meaning it can capture and store virtua...

In a digital age where the internet is intertwined with almost every aspect of our lives, the topic of internet surveillance looms large. With the revelations brought forth by whistleblowers like Edward Snowden , the veil of secrecy surrounding government surveillance programs has been partially lifted, revealing a complex web of data collection and monitoring tools employed by intelligence agencies like the NSA. One of the most notorious surveillance programs disclosed by Snowden is XKeyscore, a powerful and highly controversial tool utilized by the NSA to sift through vast amounts of internet data. The release of classified documents by Snowden shed light on how XKeyscore operates, enabling analysts to search through emails, online chats, and browsing histories without obtaining prior authorization. The Guardian newspaper's presentation on XKeyscore provides a comprehensive overview of how this software functions, illustrating its capabilities and implications for privacy ...