National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a high-technology agency within the United States Department of Defense. The agency, sometimes called the NSA/CSS, has two primary missions: (1) information assurance and (2) signals intelligence. Information assurance seeks to ensure the security of classified and sensitive information and systems within the U.S. government. Signals intelligence involves the gathering, analysis, and handling of secret information transmitted by foreign countries. The responsibilities of the NSA/CSS include both military and nonmilitary matters.
The NSA/CSS coordinates the work of analysts, computer experts, engineers, linguists, mathematicians, physicists, and other specialists. It is a cryptologic organization—that is, it is responsible for the research, analysis, and use of secret communication systems, such as codes and ciphers. The NSA/CSS is also an important center for foreign language analysis and research.
The National Security Agency was established in 1952. It became the National Security Agency/Central Security Service in 1972. The organization is based mainly in Fort Meade, Maryland.
Many observers have pointed to potential conflicts between the agency’s counterterrorism programs and individuals’ privacy rights. In the early 2000’s, reports revealed that the agency had been secretly authorized to monitor telephone and electronic communications between the United States and overseas without a warrant. Subsequent measures were implemented to ensure that government applications for wiretaps would be reviewed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In 2013, former NSA/CSS contractor Edward Snowden revealed documents showing that the agency had secretly monitored the telephone calls and Internet usage of millions of U.S. citizens. The documents also revealed that the agency had spied on both allied and enemy countries around the world. In late 2015, the NSA ended its massive, secret surveillance program targeting Americans’ telephone calls. Congress formally banned the practice earlier in the year.
See also Codes and ciphers ; Intelligence service ; Snowden, Edward .
