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Top secret document reveals NSA spies on porn habits of suspected terrorists in bid to discredit them

By Ralph Turchiano on November 27, 2013

Document was revealed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden
It shows agency spied on suspected radicalizers to harm their reputations
Civil liberties campaigners have voiced concerns about the revelations
One says: ‘NSA surveillance activities are anything but narrowly focused’

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 04:50 EST, 27 November 2013 | UPDATED: 05:58 EST, 27 November 2013

National Security Agency spies have been tracking the online sexual activity of suspected terrorists in a bid to expose them as hypocrites, it emerged today.

A top secret document revealed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden shows the agency monitored suspected radicalizers in a bid to harm their reputations.

Six targets, all Muslims, are identified as ‘exemplars’ of how electronic surveillance can be used to find ‘personal vulnerabilities’ to discredit them.

The document revealed by Edward Snowdon says evidence of ‘viewing sexually explicit material online’ could call into question a radicaliser’s devotion to the jihadist cause

The document says none of the six individuals targeted by the NSA is accused of being involved in terror plots and all are believed to currently reside outside the U.S.

Among the vulnerabilities listed by the NSA that can be exploited are ‘viewing sexually explicit material online’ and ‘using sexually explicit persuasive language when communicating with inexperienced young girls’.

The NSA document, dated October 3, 2012, repeatedly refers to the power of charges of hypocrisy to undermine such a messenger, the The Huffington Post reported.

The document says: ‘A previous SIGINT [signals intelligence, the interception of communications] assessment report on radicalization indicated that radicalizers appear to be particularly vulnerable in the area of authority when their private and public behaviors are not consistent.’

The director of the National Security Agency is listed as the ‘originator’ of the document which lists recipients including officials at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Commerce and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Shawn Turner, director of public affairs for National Intelligence, told The Huffington Post: ‘Without discussing specific individuals, it should not be surprising that the US Government uses all of the lawful tools at our disposal to impede the efforts of valid terrorist targets who seek to harm the nation and radicalize others to violence.’

But civil liberties campaigners have voiced concerns about the revelations.

Top secret document reveals how the NSA tried to discredit suspected radicalisers

Jameel Jaffer, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said: ‘It’s important to remember that the NSA’s surveillance activities are anything but narrowly focused – the agency is collecting massive amounts of sensitive information about virtually everyone.’

‘Wherever you are, the NSA’s databases store information about your political views, your medical history, your intimate relationships and your activities online,’ he added.

‘The NSA says this personal information won’t be abused, but these documents show that the NSA probably defines ‘abuse’ very narrowly.’

The director of the National Security Agency is listed as the ‘originator’ of the document which lists recipients including officials at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Commerce and the DEA