Report: NSA releases accounts of privacy violations

Published December 26, 2014

The National Security Agency has released heavily redacted accounts of its employees violations against Americans privacy after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Responding to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the agency was required to file the reports with the Intelligence Oversight Board, the Wall Street Journal reports. However, the reports were released publicly Wednesday, covering activities from 2001-2013.

By emphasizing accountability across all levels of the enterprise, and transparently reporting errors and violations to outside oversight authorities, NSA protects privacy and civil liberties while safeguarding the nation and our allies, the agency said in a statement.

The reports show violations including communications from people in the U.S. being inadvertently targeted or collected by the agency. Some of the violations resemble the disclosures of NSA programs by Edward Snowden.

The report cites incidents of poorly constructed data queries that targeted Americans, improper handling of data and information used improperly.

Some incidents showed how a U.S. Army sergeant used an NSA system to target his wife, which led to a reduction in rank and further punishment.

The NSA says the reports involve human error and intentional misuse of the intelligence system.

The agency reaffirmed that appropriate disciplinary or administrative action was taken.

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Report: NSA releases accounts of privacy violations