History UsefulNotes / NSA

NSA's work is limited to communications intelligence; it does not perform field or human intelligence activities. So, no SecretPolice, and no [[VideoGame/SplinterCell Splinter Cells]].[[note]] Special mention should go to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Collection_Service Special Collection Service]], which actually ''does'' infiltration jobs by inserting eavesdropping equipment in difficult-to-reach places, such as foreign embassies, communications centers, and foreign government installations. It should be noted, however, that they share this Program with the UsefulNotes/{{CIA}}, so they are NSA field agents as much they are CIA field agents.[[/note]]

NSA's work is limited to communications intelligence; it does not perform field or human intelligence activities. So, no SecretPolice, and no [[VideoGame/SplinterCell Splinter Cells]].

* Many ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen'' agents are from the NSA, which can include player characters, NSA agents are usually TheCracker, with the game giving builds for agents focused on Computer Sciences and SIGINT. [[TheConspiracy MAJESTIC-12]] also employs NSA agents for their operations, along with {{CIA}} and NRO.

Certain movies or TV series will play up inter-department rivalry between the NSA and their better known sister-agencies, the [[{{CIA}} Central Intelligence Agency]] and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sometimes a movie or TV show will haphazardly blur these agencies together into "generic government conspiracy [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]]". In reality, the rough difference between them is that the NSA handles "SIGINT" (signals intelligence: wiretapping, cryptography, etc.) while the CIA handles "HUMINT" (human intelligence: actually sending in human operatives for face-to-face contact). For example, if at the end of a movie the bad guy's right-hand lieutenant shoots him and reveals that he was an "NSA double-agent" the entire time, that's an anachronism: its the CIA that sends in human information gathering agents[[note]]They may and likely do work together though: CIA might have the agents on the ground, but they would rely on the NSA to handle any kind of long-term decryption operation that they start. Inversely, the NSA might need to get specific information for an investigation, and liaise with the CIA to get an officer in place to ''get'' that information. Separating the two agencies from who they are and what they do is not as strongly defined as it may seem[[/note]]. In terms of structure, the NSA is part of the Department of Defense, while the FBI is part of the Department of Justice. The CIA is an independent agency answering directly to the Director of National Intelligence, who answers directly to the President.

* Third Echelon from ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' is actually a sub-division of the NSA and there is some AllThereInTheManual handwaving about why the eponymous operatives like Sam are employed.

* The 1992 film ''Film/{{Sneakers}}'' features NSA agents.

* The agency appears or is referenced in several Literature/JackRyan novels, particularly ''Literature/SumOfAllFears'', where their communications network's security becomes a plot point.

Certain movies or TV series will play up inter-department rivalry between the NSA and their better known sister-agencies, the [[{{CIA}} Central Intelligence Agency]] and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sometimes a movie or TV show will haphazardly blur these agencies together into "generic government conspiracy [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]]". In reality, the rough difference between them is that the NSA handles "SIGINT" (signals intelligence: wiretapping, cryptography, etc.) while the CIA handles "HUMINT" (human intelligence: actually sending in human operatives for face-to-face contact). For example, if at the end of a movie the bad guy's right-hand lieutenant shoots him and reveals that he was an "NSA double-agent" the entire time, that's an anachronism: its the CIA that sends in human information gathering agents. In terms of structure, the NSA is part of the Department of Defense, while the FBI is part of the Department of Justice. The CIA is an independent agency answering directly to the Director of National Intelligence, who answers directly to the President.

* Many''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen'' agents are from the NSA, which can include player characters, NSA agents are usually TheCracker, with the game giving builds for agents focused on Computer Sciences and SIGINT. [[TheConspiracy MAJESTIC-12]] also employs NSA agents, along with {{CIA}} and NRO.

* The NSA is a relatively minor faction in ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'', they have no field agents but you can bug one of their listening posts during the course of the game. Ironically, this makes the NSA, which really ''doesn't'' have any field agents, the most realistically represented intelligence agency in the game. Mina Tang, your MissionControl, is ex-NSA recruited by Alpha Protocol. [[spoiler:She's also TheMole and heavily implied to still be loyal to the NSA, using her position to feed them info on Alpha Protocol.]]

NSA's work is limited to communications intelligence; it does not perform field or human intelligence activities. So, no SecretPolice.

The NSA is rumored to run the ECHELON communications-monitoring system, together with equivalent signals-intelligence agencies in Britain (GCHQ), Canada (CSEC), New Zealand (GCSB), and Australia (DSD). The system's capabilities are suspected to include the ability to monitor a large proportion of the world's telephone, fax and data traffic, according to a December 16, 2005 article in the ''[[AmericanNewspapers New York Times]]''.

The NSA was around existed for several years before the U.S. government acknowledged its existence, thus the "No Such Agency" moniker.[[note]]The NSA was listed in the 1957 and subsequent editions of the U.S. Government Manual, which was available in most public libraries.[[/note]] Because of this mystery, the NSA has become the agency of choice for many GovernmentConspiracy and Hollywood spy types, and is one of the most widely misrepresented government agencies in fiction. Of course, it's become a bit harder to use the NSA as a generic "super top secret black ops" force in recent years given that it's now common knowledge what they actually do.

* Literature/TheBlackChamber was the book about the precursor organization existing before UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

* Much of the action in DanBrown's first novel ''Literature/DigitalFortress'' takes place in the NSA. Like most DanBrown novels, he blends fiction and reality ([[DanBrowned though he claims not to]]) in his depiction of the agency.

Before the NSA proper was The Black Chamber, so called in part because of the book about it. It was established in UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne and had a cover as a civilian coding agency. During the 20's funding was pulled because the secretary of state considered decryption to be unfair. Denied funding, the head of it wrote a book about it and tried to keep it open.

* In the Creator/TomClancy novel ''Literature/RedStormRising'' the character Robert Toland is an NSA analayst. Typical for his books, he properly depicts the NSA as an agency specializing in SIGINT (Signal Intelligence).

* Literature/TheBlackChamber was the book about the precursor organization existing before UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo.

* In season three of ''Series/{{Alias}}'', Vaughn's wife Lauren Reed is an NSA agent. Naturally, she's [[spoiler: a FemmeFatalespy working for the Alliance]].

For a long period of time, the U.S. government denied the existence of the NSA, thus the "No Such Agency" moniker.[[note]]The NSA was listed in the 1957 and subsequent editions of the U.S. Government Manual, which was available in most public libraries.[[/note]] Because of this mystery, the NSA has become the agency of choice for many GovernmentConspiracy and Hollywood spy types, and is one of the most widely misrepresented government agencies in fiction. Of course, it's become a bit harder to use the NSA as a generic "super top secret black ops" force in recent years given that it's now common knowledge what they actually do.

[[folder:Film]]

* In the 1997 film MyFellowAmericans, {{TheDragon}}/head thug is identified as "NSA", and spends the movie in activities that have nothing to do with the NSA's mission.
* The 1998 film ''EnemyOfTheState'' shows rogue NSA agents tracking a man, using advanced microphones and real-time video from spy satellites.

* The 2007 film ''TheSimpsons Movie'' depicts the NSA listening to and transcribing every telephone and public conversation in the US. This leads to Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie's capture by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

* TheBlackChamber was the book about the precursor organization existing before UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo.

* Much of the action in DanBrown's first novel ''DigitalFortress'' takes place in the NSA. Like most DanBrown novels, he blends fiction and reality ([[DanBrowned though he claims not to]]) in his depiction of the agency.

* Third Echelon from ''SplinterCell'' is actually a sub-division of the NSA and there is some AllThereInTheManual handwaving about why the eponymous operatives like Sam are employed.
* The NSA is a relatively minor faction in ''AlphaProtocol'', they have no field agents but you can bug one of their listening posts during the course of the game. Ironically, this makes the NSA, which really ''doesn't'' have any field agents, the most realistically represented intelligence agency in the game. Mina Tang, your MissionControl, is ex-NSA recruited by Alpha Protocol. [[spoiler:She's also TheMole and heavily implied to still be loyal to the NSA, using her position to feed them info on Alpha Protocol.]]

* Government agents chasing the protagonist in TheZetaProject are from NSA.

By law, NSA's intelligence gathering is limited to foreign communications, although there have been numerous reports that the agency does not always abide by these laws. GeorgeWBush famously removed most of the limits on the NSA, even though it was illegal. Some, but not all, of this illegal activity was made legal after the fact when he pushed Congress to modify the laws. The 2013 PRISM scandal showed this activity has carried on well after Bush left office and doesn't look to be changing any time soon.

* In season three of ''Series/{{Alias}}'', Vaughn's wife Lauren Reed is an NSA agent. Naturally, she's [[spoiler: a MataHari working for the Alliance]].

Certain movies or TV series will play up inter-department rivalry between the NSA and their better known sister-agencies, the [[{{CIA}} Central Intelligence Agency]] and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sometimes a movie or TV show will haphazardly blur these agencies together into "generic government conspiracy [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]]". In reality, the rough difference between them is that the NSA handles "SIGINT" (signals intelligence: wiretapping, cryptography, etc.) while the CIA handles "HUMINT" (human intelligence: actually sending in human operatives for face-to-face contact). For example, if at the end of a movie the bad guy's right-hand lieutenant shoots him and reveals that he was an "NSA double-agent" the entire time, that's an anachronism: its the CIA that sends in human information gathering agents. In terms of structure, the NSA is part of the Department of Defense, while the FBI is part of the Department of Justice. The CIA is an independent agency answering directly to the Director of National Intelligence.

As of 2008, NSA has been directed to help monitor U.S. federal agency computer networks to protect them against attacks.

For a long period of time, the U.S. government denied the existence of the NSA, thus the "No Such Agency" moniker.[[note]]The NSA was listed in the 1957 and subsequent editions of the U.S. Government Manual, which was available in most public libraries.[[/note]]

Because of this mystery, the NSA has become the agency of choice for many GovernmentConspiracy and Hollywood spy types, and is one of the most widely misrepresented government agencies in fiction.

Certain movies or TV series will play up inter-department rivalry between the NSA and their better known sister-agencies, the [[{{CIA}} Central Intelligence Agency]] and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sometimes a movie or TV show will haphazardly blur these agencies together into "generic government conspiracy Men in Black". In reality, the rough difference between them is that the NSA handles "SIGINT" (signals intelligence: wiretapping, cryptography, etc.) while the CIA handles "HUMINT" (human intelligence: actually sending in human operatives for face-to-face contact). For example, if at the end of a movie the bad guy's right-hand lieutenant shoots him and reveals that he was an "NSA double-agent" the entire time, that's an anachronism: its the CIA that sends in human information gathering agents. In terms of structure, the NSA is part of the Department of Defense, while the FBI is part of the Department of Justice. The CIA is an independent agency answering directly to the Director of National Intelligence.

* The NSA is a relatively minor faction in ''AlphaProtocol'', they have no field agents but you can bug one of their listening posts during the course of the game. Ironically, this makes the NSA, which really ''doesn't'' have any field agents the most realistically represented intelligence agency in the game. Mina Tang, your MissionControl, is ex-NSA recruited by Alpha Protocol. [[spoiler:She's also TheMole and heavily implied to still be loyal to the NSA, using her position to feed them info on Alpha Protocol.]]

* The protagonists visit the NSA in Vladimir Serebryakov and Andrey Ulanov's ''From America With Love'' in search of information for their investigation. They essentially never get past the doorman, and the plainclothes officer talking with them explained, that the agency cannot be of any help, because they aren't authorized to divulge any classified information, and the open one they could've easily obtained through the other agencies (which happens to be true). After both are politely shown the door, one of them remarks that it's only to be expected, because the NSA headquarters is the only security-related building he's seen in the States ''[[SeriousBusiness which has the false windows]]''.