Tempora facts for kids
Tempora is the secret name for a computer system used by the British spy agency called the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). This system collects a lot of information from the internet. It gathers data from the special cables that carry internet traffic around the world.
Tempora started working in late 2011. It collects huge amounts of personal data from internet users. This happens without anyone being specifically watched or suspected of anything wrong.
What is Tempora?
Tempora is a system that gathers internet communications. It collects data from the main cables that form the internet. These are called fibre-optic cables. Imagine them as giant highways for all the information sent online. The system can then search through this huge database of messages and information later if needed.
How Tempora Works
The system works by tapping into the fibre-optic cables. These cables carry almost all internet traffic. This means Tempora collects a very large amount of data from people using the internet. It gathers this information without needing a specific reason to watch someone.
Who Revealed Tempora?
The world learned about Tempora because of Edward Snowden. He used to work for American intelligence. In May 2013, he shared secret information with a journalist named Glenn Greenwald. This was part of many secrets Snowden revealed about government programs that watch many people at once.
The information collected by the Tempora program is also shared with another spy agency. This is the National Security Agency of the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Tempora (programa de vigilancia) para niños
