I am aware that the NSA collects unheard of amounts of data via cable-tapping programs such as OAKSTAR/STORMBREW/BLARNEY/FAIRVIEW and by other means. I also know that the NSA has very large and expensive data centers that can store a lot of information. In the light of that, how long do they actually keep this data? I feel very uncomfortable (and I am sure I am not the only one) thinking that they have all of my personal details and sensitive information in their data centers.
Most likely none of that would be ever made public or even peeked upon by anyone, because I am nothing but a drop in the sea, but say that I become a significant politician at some point. They could have blackmail material from some distant point in my past. I think that will be a concern for this entire generation of internet users, because in the past there was no such thing as the internet and privacy concerns.
Is information security even a thing anymore? With methods of bypassing encryption and so on... but that's another topic.