Resumen de Reforming the NSA

Daniel Byman, Benjamin Wittes

• The authors offer opinions on U.S. intelligence services, particularly the National Security Agency (NSA). The revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden that the NSA has engaged in electronic surveillance of communications of U.S. citizens and leaders of U.S. allies such as Brazil and Germany and the resulting criticism of the agency are said to be an indication that the system in which intelligence agencies engaged in covert activities subject to oversight by other branches of government has broken down. Acknowledging that intelligence service and civil liberties are inevitably conflicting interests of the government, the authors propose that the NSA reduce the number of activities it keeps secret from the public as a means of generating more support.