US 'phone snoop-op' renewed by intelligence court for another three months

The secret intelligence court has reportedly extended the authority for the US government to carry on the phone surveillance program for another three months.

According to the Fox News, the US government had sought renewal of the program which was scheduled to expire on July 19, however, with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court (FISA) renewing the program, the surveillance activities can be carried out for some more time.

The highly controversial and debated phone surveillance program led by NSA aims at recording phone conversations of millions of citizens which are routed through the American networks each day for national security reasons.

After whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the details about the program, there has been increase in concerns whether the US is following an ethical route or simply tapping each conversation and web activity illegally.

DNI counsel Robert Litt maintained that 'these programs are legal' because they are authorized by Congress, the courts and the White House and added that their exposure could curb the government's ability to detect threats against the US, the report added.