In a new leak provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency reportedly targeted cellphone networks like U.K.-based GSM Association, provider of networking tools to 800 operators worldwide, reports The Intercept.

The attack looked to weaken the structure of the network to allow the NSA to infiltrate different operators, essentially having a surveillance book for every mobile phone user on the planet.

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Unlike other NSA surveillance movement centered in the U.S., the new leak shows the surveillance agency's global approach to surveillance. The NSA was capable of intercepting messages in Libya during the civil war, alongside other conflicts.

It is not the first time other nations have been targeted. Germany and Brazil have both shown resilience to the U.S. surveillance, by adding new anti-spying measures. Brazil even cut off ties to the U.S. with a new fiber optic cable.

Named Operation Auroragold, the basis of the operation was to take over every communication network in the world, allowing the NSA full control.

The surveillance group would work on ways to weaken the network, potentially making it vulnerable to more hostile hackers. The NSA actively pursued new networking technologies to make sure they found a backdoor.

GSMA also allowed the NSA another route to gain information inside the U.S., providing data from Verizon Wireless and AT&T.

The NSA has worked on the operation since 2010 and it still appears to be active. The GSM Association were not aware of the attacks, stating lawyers will check over the documents, and potentially take action against the NSA.

In previous leaks, NSA supporters claim if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be scared. In this leak, the NSA is not only gaining more information, but actively allowing issues on a network to continue being undisclosed, allowing more deadly hacking groups to use the exploits.

TagsNSA, GSMA, cellphone tower, cellphone, surveillance, hacking