Why Is The CIA Paying AT&T For It's Call Data?

C.I.A. Is Said to Pay AT&T For Call Data -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The C.I.A. is paying AT&T more than $10 million a year to assist with overseas counterterrorism investigations by exploiting the company’s vast database of phone records, which includes Americans’ international calls, according to government officials.

The cooperation is conducted under a voluntary contract, not under subpoenas or court orders compelling the company to participate, according to the officials. The C.I.A. supplies phone numbers of overseas terrorism suspects, and AT&T searches its database and provides records of calls that may help identify foreign associates, the officials said. The company has a huge archive of data on phone calls, both foreign and domestic, that were handled by its network equipment, not just those of its own customers.

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More News On The CIA Paying AT&T For It's Call Data

Report: CIA pays AT&T millions for phone data -- The Hill
CIA Paying AT&T $10 Million a Year for International Phone Records -- Gawker
AT&T paid by CIA for phone data -- WTOP
CIA Pays AT&T For Data On International Calls, 'Times' Says -- NPR

My Comment: I am just curious .... are they operating like the NSA .... mass collection .... or are they specific who they are targeting. If I was a betting man .... I suspect that they are like the NSA .... collecting everything.