AT&T is operating top secret Internet monitoring facilities for the NSA in the heart of 8 major US cities according to a blockbuster report from The Intercept. Sitting on top of major digital communications arteries, these surveillance systems can track and record most communications within the US as well as many outside our physical borders. David Ruiz from the Electronic Frontier Foundation explains why these sorts of systems go way beyond the foreign spying mandate of the NSA and hoover up hordes of “incidental” data on ordinary, law-abiding US citizens.

David Ruiz is a writer covering NSA surveillance and federal surveillance policy for Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights non-profit. As 2017 closes, he is deeply involved in covering the multiple bills before Congress that seek to reform or reauthorize Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, a law that is currently one of the U.S. government's most powerful surveillance tools. Previously, David worked as a journalist covering legal affairs for some of Silicon Valley's largest companies, including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Uber. He has also had his work featured in KQED, The East Bay Express, SFGate.com, The Sacramento Bee and KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM. Beyond writing, David also hosts a personal podcast called Death Knell, which explores the grieving process after death. 

For Further Insight:

Website: davidalruiz.com

Follow on Twitter: @davidalruiz @EFF

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Frontline’s United States of Secrets: https://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-united-states-secrets-part-one/

The Intercept, AT&T NSA Spy Hubs: https://theintercept.com/2018/06/25/att-internet-nsa-spy-hubs/

EFF’s response to Intercept: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/07/eight-att-buildings-and-ten-years-litigation-shining-light-nsa-surveillance