The National Security Agency (NSA) is a U.S. intelligence organization responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for...
The NSA is a U.S. government intelligence agency focused on signals intelligence (SIGINT) and information assurance (IA). It collects, processes, and disseminates foreign intelligence information and protects U.S. government communications and information systems.
Its primary functions involve intercepting and analyzing foreign communications (SIGINT) to gather intelligence and providing cybersecurity support (IA) to protect U.S. national security systems and information infrastructure.
While the NSA's primary mission is foreign intelligence, past programs have revealed incidental or intentional collection of data on U.S. citizens, sparking significant public and legal debate regarding privacy rights and the scope of its operations.
The NSA operates under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence and is subject to oversight by various bodies, including the U.S. Congress (e.g., intelligence committees) and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).