Do intelligence agencies look at previous internet activity?

[Utunbu]

Hello all,

I was wondering, do the intelligence agencies (specifically the NSA) check previous internet activity when running background checks? I know it is possible that they could (if they wanted) easily track an applicant to his/her ISP and get the records that way, but is this a standard check for background investigations?

[George W. Maschke]

I haven't heard of the NSA routinely checking applicants' Internet activity, and it seems doubtful that it would be practical to do so. However, during the pre-employment polygraph interrogation, you can expect to be asked about past crime, including on-line illegality. In this context, minor admissions may be blown out of all proportion, as the experience of "Frustrated" illustrates:

https://antipolygraph.org/statements/statement-019.shtml