Upstream collection

Upstream collection is a term used by the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States for intercepting telephone and internet traffic from the internet backbone, i.e. major internet cables and switches, both domestic and foreign. Besides the Upstream collection, NSA also gathers information from internet communications through arrangements with internet companies under the program codenamed PRISM. Both the Upstream programs and PRISM are part of the Special Source Operations (SSO) division, which is responsible for collection in cooperation with corporate partners.