January 28 (CNS) - According to foreign media, Edward Snowden, a former employee of the National Security Agency of the United States of America (NSA), leaked that intelligence agencies use such application software as Angry Birds installed on smartphones to acquire intelligence.

According to a file published by Snowden on January 27, as reported by many media, application software, including maps, games, and social networking systems, might be exploited by the NSA and the British intelligence agencies to become an instrument to acquire individual information, including location information, political views, and sexual orientation.

It is reported that the files did not identify the size and scope of surveillance, but alleges that U.S. and British intelligence agencies are able to easily acquire the user data generated from Angry Birds and Google Maps.

World-renown gaming software, such as Angry Birds, might also become a surveillance tool for intelligence agencies. A report produced by a British intelligence agency in 2012 lists how to extract user information from players of Angry Birds on their Android-based smartphones.

According to a file from a British intelligence agency, the Joint Program means any smartphone user who uses Google Maps is supporting British intelligence surveillance systems in disguise. According to information exposed in another file, intelligence agencies will not waste their effort in acquiring such information.

Currently, the NSA has not responded to such reports. However, according to their statement dated January 27, 2014, communications of people who are not valid foreign intelligence targets are not of interest to intelligence agencies.

"Any implication that NSA's foreign intelligence collection is focused on the smartphone or social media communications of everyday Americans is not true", according to the statement, "We collect only those communications that we are authorized by law to collect for valid foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes regardless of the technical means used by the targets".

However, the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has not made any statements regarding intelligence surveillance. Instead, GCHQ only emphasizes that their activities are authorized, necessary, and proportionate.”

As reported, whistle-blower Snowden also previously mentioned that U.S. intelligence agencies collect information through cellphones and social network communications. However, using application software to collect information is a further step to demonstrate to people how intelligence agencies turn daily unnoticeable software into a tool for spying.