Special Source Operations

Special Source Operations (SSO) is a division in the US National Security Agency (NSA)^[1] which is responsible for all programs aimed at collecting data from major fiber-optic cables and switches, both inside the US and abroad, and also through corporate partnerships.^[2] Its existence was revealed through documents provided by Edward Snowden to media outlets in 2013 and, according to him, it is the "crown jewel" of the NSA.^[3]

^ Greenwald, Glenn; MacAskill, Ewen; Poitras, Laura; Ackerman, Spencer; Rushe, Dominic (July 11, 2013). "How Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages". The Guardian. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
^ Gellman, Barton; Poitras, Laura (June 6, 2013). "US Intelligence Mining Data from Nine U.S. Internet Companies in Broad Secret Program". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
^ Greenwald, Glenn (2014). No Place to Hide. New York: Metropolitan Books. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-62779-161-8.

[Gu1-1] Greenwald, Glenn; MacAskill, Ewen; Poitras, Laura; Ackerman, Spencer; Rushe, Dominic (July 11, 2013). "How Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages". The Guardian. Retrieved July 12, 2013.

[WaPo1-2] Gellman, Barton; Poitras, Laura (June 6, 2013). "US Intelligence Mining Data from Nine U.S. Internet Companies in Broad Secret Program". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 12, 2013.

[3] Greenwald, Glenn (2014). No Place to Hide. New York: Metropolitan Books. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-62779-161-8.

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