Wikimedia started batting around the idea of suing the NSA with the ACLU last year following Edward Snowden's disclosures about the scale of the surveillance. It's specifically challenging the "upstream" spying that taps the internet's backbone and picks up all communications, including those by "non-US persons." By casting such a wide net, "the NSA is straining the backbone of democracy," according to the organization. It added that the spy agency massively overstepped the FAA limits by monitoring "people, platforms and infrastructure with little regard for probably cause or proportionality."

By casting such a wide net, "the NSA is straining the backbone of democracy."

The 2013 Snowden leaks showed that the NSA specifically targeted the Wikipedia online encyclopedia and it's half-billion users. Parent Wikimedia said that gives it "standing" to file a suit, since the foundation and its users suffered harm -- unlike a previous Amnesty International case that was dismissed for lack of a direct link. The foundation said that specific details of the final complaint will be forthcoming once the suit has been filed. On top of the Wikimedia suit, the NSA is also battling a complaint from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

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