The intercepts circulated last week among Western intelligence agencies, part of a Georgian government effort to argue that Georgia was under invasion and attacked defensively. Georgia argues that as a tiny and vulnerable nation allied with the West, it deserves extensive military and political support.

Data is increasingly flowing around the United States, which may have intelligence — and conceivably military — consequences. Some Internet technologists and privacy advocates say that the actions of US intelligence agencies and other government policies may be hastening the shift toward Canada and Europe.