NSA

Description

The National Security Agency is the US Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Agency. Numerous whistleblowers have revealed significant aspects of how the NSA works. It is not an exaggeration to say the NSA can monitor all forms of electronic-based communication.Its capabilities for monitoring and collecting digital and communications information have alarmed civil libertarians and attacted significant criticism.

PRIMAL Assessment

The NSA plays a critical role in safeguarding US national interests and collecting foreign intelligence of value to the US.

SIGINT collection can always be mitigated by avoiding electronic communications. For this reason it will never fully replace other forms of collection such as HUMINT and IMINT. Like other forms of intelligence it is most effectively used when fused by an all-source analyst.