NSA denies access to Google and Yahoo data.
The statement was made by Keith Alexander, director of the United States National Security Agency (NSA), after the Washington Post published information that the agency had secretly accessed user data worldwide; the director said the information is "incorrect" and that it would be illegal for the NSA to intercept this data.
From Agência Brasil*
Brasilia - The United States National Security Agency (NSA) today (31) denied intercepting the databases of Google and Yahoo, multinational online service companies that host and develop a range of services and products on the internet. In August, Google said it could not guarantee the privacy and security of its users after the company was taken to US court to answer a lawsuit from users who alleged data espionage.
The NSA's statement was made by the agency's director, Keith Alexander, after the Washington Post published information that the agency had secretly accessed user data worldwide. The director said the information is "incorrect" and that it would be illegal for the NSA to intercept this data.
He emphasized that access to the data is granted only with judicial authorization. "It would be illegal for us to do that," the director added, commenting on the allegations of data access by Yahoo and Google.
Yesterday, the American newspaper cited documents obtained by former NSA computer consultant Edward Snowden, and interviews with agency officials stating that the NSA would send millions of records daily from Google and Yahoo databases to the agency's headquarters.
Over the past 30 days, NSA agents have reportedly processed more than 180 million new records that include metadata, indicating who sent or received emails, when, and content such as text, audio, and video.
* With information from the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Edited by: Marcos Chagas