Information security

US National Security Agency Deleted Surveillance Data - Reports

Earlier this week, the US Congress extended the country's surveillance program for six years, with US President Donald Trump, signing the measure on Friday.

The National Security Agency has deleted surveillance data and backup files that it pledged to preserve under court orders, the Politico website wrote Saturday.

The NSA told US District Court Judge Jeffrey White Thursday that the agency hadn't preserved data from internet communications intercepted on the order of George W. Bush between 2007 and 2011. Moreover, the agency deleted all backup files back for 2009, 2011 and 2016, claiming that it was in need of more space to collect new information.

"The NSA's review to date reveals that this [Presidential Surveillance Program] Internet content data was not specifically targeted for deletion, but rather the PSP Internet content data matched criteria that were broadly used to delete data of a certain type… in response to mission requirements to free-up space and improve performance of the [redacted] back-up system," an NSA official, publicly identified as "Dr. Mark O" said in a statement.