Press Releases
Ruppersberger Statement on NSA Compliance Incidents
Washington, DC,
September 6, 2013
For Immediate Release Contact: Allison Getty Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Ranking Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement regarding the Washington Post’s reporting of National Security Agency (NSA) privacy violations. "Press reports outlining alleged privacy violations by the National Security Agency (NSA) are incredibly troubling. As Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I have instructed my staff to thoroughly review and evaluate these allegations. Committee staff has already been in contact with NSA compliance officers to discuss the accuracy of the public disclosures in keeping with the Intelligence Committee's responsibility to conduct aggressive, thorough and effective oversight. There are strict oversight procedures in place to ensure that NSA programs protect Americans’ privacy while carrying out their purpose of preventing terrorism. Under current law, the National Security Agency is required to provide the Intelligence Committee with more than a dozen reports every year on FISA activities, which include information on compliance issues. Some of these reports provide independent analysis from NSA's Inspector General. The information we have received so far does not show any intentional abuse or misuse of NSA's authorities. The compliance issues stem from inadvertent inaccuracies or technological problems. As NSA’s mission grows, it must become more complex to keep up with technology used by suspected terrorists and others who want to harm America. As this occurs, the Committee may need to expand notification requirements in order to receive additional information on NSA activities that are relevant to our intelligence oversight mandate. In addition, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance oversight and may request and require additional reporting and notification by NSA. Keeping America safe and protecting Americans’ privacy are not mutually exclusive goals. I take this responsibility very seriously. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress as well as the Intelligence Community to ensure that we pursue both goals to protect our nation from those who want to harm us and protect the privacy of Americans. ###### |