NSA chief defends spying on Americans

The head of the US National Security Agency, Keith Alexander said collection of bulk phone records by US intelligence agencies is essential to preventing terrorist attacks and “wrong decisions” by Congress could curb this power.

The NSA is facing a backlash from some lawmakers and privacy advocates over abuses in spy programs exposed by former government contractor Edward Snowden and in documents recently declassified by Barack Obama’s administration.
Alexander pleaded for support of NSA programs during his speech at the conference, which was attended primarily by US government and industry officials specializing in cybersecurity.
In particular, Alexander said the agency needs to collect bulk phone metadata, such as numbers dialed and call durations, to connect intelligence dots.
He said analysts who were found to have committed 12 intentional abuses within the past 10 years have been punished or left the agency.