NSA officials tried to stop phone record collection in 2009

NSA officials tried to stop phone record collection in 2009
(Image credit: The Guardian via Getty Images)

NSA officials had a "secret internal debate" about the phone surveillance program years before Edward Snowden leaked information about it, The Associated Press reports.

Some officials reportedly objected to collecting phone records and tried to stop the NSA program in 2009. The officials wanted to have agency employees send requests to phone companies when necessary.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.