The US National Security Agency may be getting out of the business of sweeping up and storing vast amounts of data on people's phone calls.
The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration this week will propose that Congress overhaul the electronic surveillance program.
The newspaper says the administration wants phone companies to keep the bulk records for 18 months, as they do now, and seeks to preserve its ability to see certain records in specific circumstances approved by a judge.
But no longer would the NSA systematically collect the phone data and hold it for up to five years.
This won't happen right away. The Times said the administration plans to renew the bulk phone-records program as it now exists for at least three more months.
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The "NSA would end its systematic collection of data about Americans' calling habits," The New York Times reported online, citing unnamed senior administration officials.
"The records would stay in the hands of phone companies, which would not be required to retain the data for any longer than they normally would. And the NSA could obtain specific records only with permission from a judge, using a new kind of court order," the Times added.
A trove of documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden has sparked outrage in the US and abroad about the vast capabilities of America's intelligence programs.
Officials have defended the methods as necessary to thwart terror attacks but Obama ordered reforms be developed in the wake of the disclosures.
The administration proposal will seek to extend for one more 90-day period authorisation for the current progam. After that, the Times reported, "under the plan the administration has developed and now advocates... it would later undergo major changes."
