Newly released documents show the National Security Agency violated phone - tapping laws . Papers : NSA also submitted incorrect information to the Foreign Intelligence Appeals Court . The papers were released to comply with ACLU , Electronic Frontier Foundation guidelines . Because there was such confusion about the program , the NSA instituted new steps to guard against future violations , including adding a compliance director , the officials said . The court required the NSA to seek approval to query data until processes were improved .
Newly released documents show the National Security Agency violated phone - tapping laws . Papers : NSA also submitted incorrect information to the Foreign Intelligence Appeals Court . The papers were released to comply with ACLU , Electronic Frontier Foundation guidelines . The court required the NSA to seek approval to query data until processes were improved .