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Government Surveillance

CDT Statement on NSA Collection of Email Address Books

In response to the latest revelations that the NSA is collecting contact lists from personal emails and instant messaging accounts, the Center for Democracy & Technology issued the following statement.

“The NSA’s mass collection of address book information marks a significant intrusion on associational rights that will chill free expression all over the world. Earlier disclosures made people think twice about whom they called. Now, they will have to wonder whether entering someone’s contact information in their address book may also bring unwanted scrutiny,” said Greg Nojeim, Director of CDT’s Project on Freedom, Security, and Technology.

“There seems to be no end to NSA’s appetite for our social connections,” he added.