Prepare for a massive heap of stories about the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the controversial leak of information pertaining to its questionable data collection operations. We’re certainly going to hear about it for quite some time. Whether you think Edward Snowden, the individual responsible for most of the leaks, is a traitor or not it’s obvious that the subject is definitely a sore one.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the NSA is authorized to collect location data information from cell phones in the US, but they don’t normally do so. More specifically, the NSA “chooses not to” aggregate specific “geolocational information that can pinpoint the location of callers.”

However, as revealed by recent leaks, the NSA can still collect a massive amount of other sensitive information and data.

I’m sure now we can all rest easy knowing that the NSA chooses not to collect the related data, even though they’re authorized to. They’re such a nice bunch, aren’t they?

[via The Wall Street Journal]