Most NSA snooping is "authorized" by [ Reagan's executive order 12333 ]( https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/new-documents-shed-light-one-nsas-most-powerful-tools ) . This snooping has no oversight by Congress or courts. Although the government says this is to prevent "terrorism", that is nothing more than an all-purpose excuse.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#06_October_2014_%28NSA_snooping_authorized%29