Obama's new proposal could end NSA's phone spying

Washington: The National Security Agency may be getting out of the business of sweeping up and storing vast amounts of data on people's phone calls. The New York Times reported late Monday that the Obama administration this week will propose that Congress overhaul the electronic surveillance program. The newspaper said the administration wants phone companies to keep the bulk records for 18 months, as they do now, and seeks to preserve its ability to see certain records in specific circumstances approved by a judge. But no longer would the NSA systematically collect the phone data and hold it for up to five years. This won't happen right away. The Times said the administration plans to renew the bulk phone-records program as it now exists for at least three more months. Associated Press