The National Security Agency (NSA) is making a significant move towards transparency by launching a new podcast series called “No Such Podcast.” This series promises to unveil stories of the agency’s past missions, starting with its involvement in foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity.
The inaugural episode of “No Such Podcast” is scheduled for September 5th and will delve into the NSA’s contributions to the U.S. government’s efforts to neutralize Osama bin Laden. This will be a declassified account of the agency’s signals intelligence operations. The NSA intends to release six weekly episodes through mid-October, offering insights into various aspects of its work.
The podcast will be available on popular platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and YouTube. Sara Siegle, the NSA’s chief of strategic communications, explained the reasoning behind the initiative: “Because it’s sensitive, we can’t talk about some of our work, but it’s time to start telling more stories that we can talk about, sharing more of that expertise, and highlighting these incredible public servants.”
This decision to share past missions comes at a time when the NSA has a history of secrecy and controversy. In 2013, a massive surveillance effort by the NSA and FBI on consumer services was leaked by government contractor Edward Snowden. This leak exposed a government program called PRISM, which harvested user data from major Silicon Valley companies. The public was shocked and concerns over privacy and government overreach were amplified.
The new podcast series could be viewed as an attempt to rebuild public trust and demonstrate greater transparency. It will be interesting to see how the NSA navigates the delicate balance of sharing information while safeguarding sensitive national security operations.
The launch of “No Such Podcast” is a significant development that may signal a shift in the NSA’s approach to public engagement. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to a more open and accountable relationship between the agency and the public.
