In today's article we are going to delve into the topic of Special Source Operations, a topic that has gained great relevance in recent times. Special Source Operations is a topic of general interest that covers a wide range of aspects that impact people's daily lives. Throughout this article, we will explore different aspects related to Special Source Operations, from its origin and evolution, to its influence in different areas of society. In addition, we will analyze how Special Source Operations has impacted people's lives and what the possible consequences are at an individual and collective level. Stay tuned, as this article promises to provide an in-depth and enriching look at Special Source Operations.
Special Source Operations (SSO) is a division in the US National Security Agency (NSA)[1] which is responsible for all programs aimed at collecting data from major fiber-optic cables and switches, both inside the US and abroad, and also through corporate partnerships.[2] Its existence was revealed through documents provided by Edward Snowden to media outlets in 2013 and, according to him, it is the "crown jewel" of the NSA.[3]
The program began in 2006, according to one of Snowden's documents, when the NSA was collecting the equivalent of "one Library of Congress every 14.4 seconds". The Washington Post described the official seal of the SSO division as something "that might have been parody: an eagle with all the world's cables in its grasp."[4]
The five biggest collection programs of the Special Source Operations division are codenamed:[5]
Other known programs include: