US digital agencies snoop on ordinary internet users more than targeted ones

A four-month long investigation by The Washington Post has revealed that ordinary American and non-American internet users outnumber legally targeted foreigners in the communications intercepted by the National Security Agency (NSA) from U.S. digital networks.

According to The Washington Post, nine out of 10 account holders in intercepted conversations were not the intended surveillance targets for the digital networks but were caught in a net that the agency had cast for somebody else. The details of the interceptions were provided to The Washington post by Edward Snowden.

The revelation has raised questions on the issue of invasion of privacy-a topic that has reportedly not been addressed by the Obama administration so far. The intercepted messages include discoveries having significant intelligence value, the report added.

Reportedly, the intercepted data contains fresh revelations about a secret overseas nuclear project, double-dealing by an ostensible ally, a military calamity that has befallen an unfriendly power, and the identities of aggressive intruders into U.S. computer networks among others.