While Obama administration officials previously claimed that the bulk
collection program was ended “for operational and resource reasons and
has not been restarted,” NSA officials now gather emails and other
information from Americans and non-Americans unhindered by restrictions
on targeting which existed previously on US-based targets by collecting
internet communications stored in data hubs located overseas (the
“internet’s backbone”).
-- Nick Barrickman, "NSA documents reveal bulk email collection continues despite official claims" (WSWS).