OAKSTAR is a secret internet surveillance program of the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States. It was disclosed in 2013 as part of the leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
OAKSTAR is an umbrella program involving surveillance of telecommunications. It falls under the category of "Upstream collection", meaning that data is pulled directly from fiber-optic cables and top-level communications infrastructure. Upstream collection programs allow access to very high volumes of data, and most of the pre-selection is done by the providers themselves, before the data is passed on to the NSA.
The FY 2013 budget for OAKSTAR was $9.41 million. OAKSTAR consists of the following SIGADs:
DesignationCovernameLegal AuthoritySee NoteKey TargetsType of Information collectedRemarksUS-3206 (PDDG:6T)MONKEYROCKETExecutive Order 12333Counterterrorism in the Middle East, Europe, and AsiaDNI metadata and content"Foreign access point," was expected to go online in spring 2012US-3217 (PDDG:MU)SHIFTINGSHADOWAfghanistan communications: MTN Afghanistan, Roshan GSM Network, AWCCDNR metadata and voice; "Timing Advances" and geolocation"Foreign access point"US-3230 (PDDG:0B)ORANGECRUSH"To be determined"Voice, fax, DNI, DNR, and metadata"Foreign access point through PRIMECANE, and 3rd party partner", not online as of the time of source presentation.US-3247 (PDDG:PJ)YACHTSHOPWorldwide DNI MetadataWorldwide DNI Metadata"Access through BLUEANCHOR partner," contributor to MARINAUS-3251ORANGEBLOSSOMUS-3273 (PDDG:SK)SILVERZEPHYRTransit Authority and FAASouth, Central and Latin AmericaDNR Metadata, voice and fax; DNI content and metadata"Network access point through STEELKNIGHT partner"US-3277BLUEZEPHYRUS-3354COBALTFALCON Note: SIGADs not otherwise designated are presumed to operate under the legal authority of Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act (FAA)
Glossary DNI: Digital Network Intelligence DNR: Dial Number Recognition MARINA: An NSA Database of Internet metadata Timing advances: no explanation has been provided in the source material. Transit Authority: A legal authority that states communications that transit the United States are collectible, provided that both endpoints are foreign.
Media Relating to OAKSTAR and Upstream Collection
References