NSA Monitored Porn Habits To Discredit ‘Radicalizers’

Latest revelations from Snowden leaks

  • Share
  • Read Later

Like TIME on Facebook for more breaking news and current events from around the globe!

The National Security Agency has been spying on online sexual activity – including visits to pornography websites – as part of a proposed plan to discredit a handful of people the agency believes are “radicalizing” others, according to a new report.

The Huffington Post reports on the latest revelations from leaker and former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, which indicates the NSA has spied on six targets, all Muslims, whom the agency believes are radicalizing others through incendiary speeches. According to the latest leaked document, the NSA listed vulnerabilities that could be exploited to discredit the individuals, including “viewing sexually explicit material online” and “using sexually explicit persuasive language when communicating with inexperienced young girls.”

None of the six individuals identified in the document is accused of being involved in terrorist plots, and the agency believes that all reside outside of the U.S.

The NSA document cited in the report was dated Oct. 3, 2012. It is the latest in a series of leaked classified documents obtained by Snowden, a former NSA contractor, who has since fled the United States and is living under temporary asylum in Russia.