COMPUTERGRAM INTERNATIONAL: DECEMBER 08 1999 SECTION: INTERNET Editor: Rachel Chalmers + NSA Denies Plans to Run Surveillance on US Citizens US spy agency the National Security Agency (NSA) has denied reports that it colluded with the FBI to eavesdrop on American citizens. Newsweek has reported that the NSA is drafting a memorandum of understanding to clarify ways in which it can help the FBI combat domestic terrorism. FBI director Louis Freeh has long argued that the FBI needs more authority to intercept electronic communications, but the NSA's brief, like that of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is supposed to be exclusively international. The NSA has said there's no conflict. "Under Executive Order, NSA is authorized to provide technical assistance to law enforcement," said the agency in a statement. "Any assistance NSA provides is performed in accordance with federal law and regulations." ============================================================ Michael Sondow I.C.I.I.U. http://www.iciiu.org Tel. (718)846-7482 Fax: (603)754-8927 ============================================================
