NSA Internal Watchdog Finds Some NSA Workers Spied On Their 'Love Interests'

An undated aerial handout photo shows the National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters building in Fort Meade, Maryland. REUTERS/NSA/Handout via Reuters

U.S. Internal Watchdog Finds NSA Workers Spied On Significant Others -- Reuters

(Reuters) - At least a dozen U.S. National Security Agency employees have abused secret surveillance programs in the past decade, most often to spy on their significant others, according to the latest findings of the agency's internal watchdog.

In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee's top Republican, Charles Grassley, NSA Inspector General George Ellard outlined 12 instances of "intentional misuse" of the agency's intelligence gathering programs since January 1, 2003.

Grassley had asked the NSA internal watchdog to report on "intentional and willful" abuse of the NSA surveillance authority as public concerns mount over the vast scope of the U.S. government's spying program.

The agency's operations have come under intense scrutiny since disclosures this spring by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden that the U.S. government collects far more Internet and telephone data than previously publicly known.

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The NSA Spies Who Couldn't Resist Snooping on their Loved Ones -- The Atlantic
NSA employees spied on significant others -- CBS
NSA: Some used spying power to snoop on lovers -- CNN
NSA officers spying on their lovers called "LOVEINT" -- USA Today
‘LoveINT’: Given Immense Powers, NSA Employees Super Cyber-Stalked Their Crushes -- ABC News
NSA internal watchdog reveals workers have misused surveillance powers to snoop on love interests -- Daily Mail
Too tempting? NSA watchdog details how officials spied on love interests -- FOX
'Loveint': NSA letter discloses employee eavesdropping on girlfriends, spouses -- NBC
Too tempting? NSA watchdog details how officials spied on love interests -- FOX News
NSA watchdog details 12 incidents of misuse of surveillance data by officials -- FOX News/AP
5 Americans who used NSA facilities to spy on lovers -- Washington Post
How NSA Spies Abused Their Powers to Snoop on Girlfriends, Lovers, and First Dates -- Ryan Gallagher, Slate