Ten Million dollar payoff to AT&T

The CIA is paying AT&T with a 10 million dollar payday by wanting access to their data. AT&T is willing to identify the phone number when the CIA comes asking. Since the DIa is not able by law to spy on US citizens, if it comes across a contact number that has the personal info blacked out due to being a US citizen, the CIA gives the info to the FBI.

The CIA's deal with the company, while apparently legal, does show some serious initiative by the company in turning surveillance into a revenue source.They aren't alone. The NSA is known to be paying companies for data access as leaked by Edward Snowden.

"The CIA protects the nation and upholds privacy rights of Americans by ensuring that its intelligence collection activities are focused on acquiring foreign intelligence and counterintelligence in accordance with U.S. laws," said CIA spokesman Dean Boyd.

"The CIA is expressly forbidden from undertaking intelligence collection activities inside the United States 'for the purpose of acquiring information concerning the domestic activities of US persons,' and the CIA does not do so."