Changes

On September 5, 2013 a joint investigation by ProPublica, ''The New York Times'', and ''The Guardian'' found the NSA is winning its war against internet encryption with supercomputers, technical know-how, and court orders. NSA also has the ability to access user data for most major smartphones on the market, including Apple iPhones, BlackBerrys, and Google Android phones.

On September 5, 2013 a joint investigation by ProPublica, ''The New York Times'', and ''The Guardian'' found the NSA is winning its war against internet encryption with supercomputers, technical know-how, and court orders. NSA also has the ability to access user data for most major smartphones on the market, including Apple iPhones, BlackBerrys, and Google Android phones.

In late October it was revealed the NSA tapped the mobile phone of German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]. ''Der Spiegel'' reported Obama personally approved wiretapping Merkel's cell phone conversations.<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/17/flashback-barack-obama-wiretapped-german-chancellor-angela-merkel-in-2010/ </ref>

In late October it was revealed the NSA tapped the mobile phone of German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]. ''Der Spiegel'' reported Obama personally approved wiretapping Merkel's cell phone conversations.<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/17/flashback-barack-obama-wiretapped-german-chancellor-angela-merkel-in-2010/</ref>

In November Snowden leaks revealed that '''Britain's GCHQ and other European spy agencies work together to conduct mass surveillance. The files also make clear that GCHQ played a leading role in advising its European counterparts how to work around laws intended to restrict the surveillance power of intelligence agencies.''' ''The Guardian'' article reported,<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/01/gchq-europe-spy-agencies-mass-surveillance-snowden</ref>[[File:450px-Edward Snowden 2013-10-9 (1) (cropped).jpg|right|225px|thumb|[[Edward Snowden]] warned of such abuse played out in 2016 and 2017: an [[Executive branch]] with unlimited. unrestrained power to spy on investigative Committees of Congress, political opponents, and even the Supreme Court.]]

In November Snowden leaks revealed that '''Britain's GCHQ and other European spy agencies work together to conduct mass surveillance. The files also make clear that GCHQ played a leading role in advising its European counterparts how to work around laws intended to restrict the surveillance power of intelligence agencies.''' ''The Guardian'' article reported,<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/01/gchq-europe-spy-agencies-mass-surveillance-snowden</ref>[[File:450px-Edward Snowden 2013-10-9 (1) (cropped).jpg|right|225px|thumb|[[Edward Snowden]] warned of such abuse played out in 2016 and 2017: an [[Executive branch]] with unlimited. unrestrained power to spy on investigative Committees of Congress, political opponents, and even the Supreme Court.]]