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Back to To the Point

To the Point

NSA Can Record 100% of a Foreign Country's Calls

Based on documents supplied by Edward Snowden, it's reported that the National Security Agency is capable of recording 100% of an entire foreign nation's telephone calls, and listening to them as long as a month after they've taken place. MYSTIC was begun in 2009 and reached full capacity against a target nation in 2011.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Based on documents supplied by Edward Snowden, it's reported that the National Security Agency is capable of recording 100% of an entire foreign nation's telephone calls, and listening to them as long as a month after they've taken place. MYSTIC was begun in 2009 and reached full capacity against a target nation in 2011. That's according to yesterday's Washington Post, which broke the story. The paper's withholding details as to which countries have been involved at the request of US officials. Co-writer Ashkan Soltani is an independent researcher and consultant.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Andrea Brody

    Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Ashkan Soltani

    independent researcher and consultant

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