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Director of National Intelligence declassifies PRISM info to clear up 'inaccuracies'
After details of a government program called PRISM with alleged hooks into the servers of major internet companies became public this week, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper decided it was necessary to reveal even more information. According to his statement, clearing up the "significant misimpressions" and "inaccuracies" requires the release of further classified info, included in a fact sheet listed after the break. So what is PRISM, according to the "Facts on Collection of Information Pursuant to Section 702"?
It is an internal government computer system used to facilitate the government's statutorily authorized collection of foreign intelligence information from electronic communication service providers under court supervision...This authority was created by the Congress and has been widely known and publicly discussed since its inception in 2008.
In short, Section 702 facilitates the targeted acquisition of foreign intelligence information concerning foreign targets located outside the United States under court oversight. Service providers supply information to the Government when they are lawfully required to do so.
The document claims PRISM is not an "undisclosed collection or data mining program." The above passages seemingly align with statements (including one today from Yahoo) from the companies listed claiming that they only respond to inquiries when required to by law.
Filed under: Apple, Microsoft, Google, Verizon
Source: Director of National Intelligence, PRISM Fact Sheet (PDF)
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