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What is the National Security Agency?
The National Security Agency (NSA) is an organisation that works for the government in the United States (US). It is their job to gather information and use it to protect the country.
As a way to keep the US safe, the NSA runs projects, one of which is codenamed PRISM.
What happens under Project PRISM?
Project PRISM is used to spy on people, by listening to their private phone calls and even tracking their internet usage! They do this, just in case, they might come across people planning [[suspicious::Believing that someone is doing something wrong without having any proof.]] or dangerous activities.
They also ask companies like Google and Facebook to share people’s information and text messages with them. This is just like your friend sharing your secrets with other people without your permission.
If PRISM is top-secret, how did we find out about it ?
PRISM used to be a top-secret project until it was exposed by Edward Snowden in 2013. Snowden used to work with the NSA. He risked his own safety, to let the world know that they were being spied on.
This got him into trouble with the government, and he had to flee the US, to live in Russia (far away from the US!).
How did the people respond to the news of Project PRISM?
Upon finding out about PRISM, people felt angry and betrayed by the government. They felt unsafe and scared about being recorded when they hadn’t done anything wrong. They felt their [[right to privacy::The ability to do something in private without interference from anyone.]] was being [[violated::Disobeyed or disrespected.]].
What can be done to keep our information safe?
We must be careful to not share very private information on websites we may not be sure of. Always ask a parent or elder before sharing any personal information on the internet. Other than that, the internet is always full of endless possibilities and knowledge! Stay safe, and happy surfing!
Quick Revision
NSA (National Security Agency) – A US government organization that collects information to protect the country.
Project PRISM – A secret spying program run by the NSA.
What PRISM does – Listens to phone calls, tracks internet activity, and collects data from companies like Google and Facebook.
How it was exposed – Edward Snowden, an NSA worker, revealed it in 2013, risking his safety.
Aftermath – People got angry and felt their privacy was violated.
Safety tip – Don’t share personal information online; ask an elder before posting private details.
