WASHINGTON – The National Security Agency is defending its tracking of foreign mobile phones overseas. It says the practice is legal under a U.S. presidential order governing all U.S. government spying.
The agency said Friday it isn’t tracking every foreign phone and call, and that it takes measures to limit how much U.S. data is collected.
The Washington Post reported this week that the agency gathers up to 5 billion records every day about the location data for hundreds of millions of cellphones worldwide. That includes some American data, according to documents from former NSA contractor-turned-fugitive Edward Snowden.
READ MORE: Questions, but no answers about allegations Canada allowed U.S. to spy at G20
Spokeswoman Vanee Vines says the practice is legal under a White House order known as Executive Order 12333. She says NSA analysts must treat differently any U.S. citizens’ data they accidentally gather.
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