Issue: Should National Security Agency Be Seeing Verizon Phone Records?

Can you hear me now?  The slogan of the Verizon TV commercial has taken on new meaning in light of a British newspaper’s revelation that the National Security Agency is collecting telephone records of millions of Verizon Communications customers under a secret court order. 

“Citing a copy of the court order, which the Guardian said it had obtained, the report said Verizon is required on an ‘ongoing, daily basis’ to give the NSA data on all phone calls in network within the United States and between the United States and other countries,” said a Reuters report.

Verizon Wireless operates at least 16 stores in San Diego County, including outlets in Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Jolla, La Mesa, Oceanside and Santee.

The Guardian said the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court granted the order to the FBI on April 25, “giving the U.S. government unlimited authority to access the data for a three-month period ending on July 19,” according to Reuters.

If you’re a Verizon customer—and even if you’re not—what do you think of this report?  If true, is it fine for Washington to know your call records?  Or is this just the price Americans pay for security? Share your thoughts in the comments.