Documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden show how the NSA has at least considered using evidence of alleged Islamist extremists’ online sexual activities to discredit them. The targets were not suspected of involvement in terrorist plots.
Pervasive online surveillance isn’t just for spotting threats to national security – it may also be a handy tool for using people’s personal activities to discredit them. According to a Huffington Post piece that cites documents leaked by Edward Snowden, the NSA has been collecting evidence of alleged Islamist extremists’ visits to pornographic sites, and has at least considered using this information to undermine their message.