You&#x27;re right that they never admittee it directly. Their defense was funny and an indirect admission:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;fcw.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;1999&#x2F;06&#x2F;02&#x2F;congress-nsa-butt-heads-over-echelon.aspx?m=1" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;fcw.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;1999&#x2F;06&#x2F;02&#x2F;congress-nsa-butt-heads-...</a><p>Anyway, it was all over US media from 1999-2001 plus European Parliament with plenty testimony and recommendations. And again, the link encryption recommendation was in US security requirements anyway.