General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis (pdf.) just in from the DNI.
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, DC 20511
June 8, 2013
Facts on the Collection of Intelligence Pursuant to Section 702
of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
PRISM is not an undisclosed collection or data mining program. It is an internal government
computer system used to facilitate the governments statutorily authorized collection of
foreign intelligence information from electronic communication service providers under
court supervision, as authorized by Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
(FISA) (50 U.S.C. § 1881a). This authority was created by the Congress and has been widely
known and publicly discussed since its inception in 2008.
Under Section 702 of FISA, the United States Government does not unilaterally obtain
information from the servers of U.S. electronic communication service providers. All such
information is obtained with FISA Court approval and with the knowledge of the provider
based upon a written directive from the Attorney General and the Director of National
Intelligence. 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 Government cannot target anyone under the court-approved procedures for Section 702
collection unless there is an appropriate, and documented, foreign intelligence purpose for the
acquisition (such as for the prevention of terrorism, hostile cyber activities, or nuclear
proliferation) and the foreign target is reasonably believed to be outside the United States.
We cannot target even foreign persons overseas without a valid foreign intelligence purpose.
In addition, Section 702 cannot be used to intentionally target any U.S. citizen, or any other
U.S. person, or to intentionally target any person known to be in the United States. Likewise,
Section 702 cannot be used to target a person outside the United States if the purpose is to
acquire information from a person inside the United States.
Finally, the notion that Section 702 activities are not subject to internal and external oversight
is similarly incorrect. Collection of intelligence information under Section 702 is subject to
an extensive oversight regime, incorporating reviews by the Executive, Legislative and
Judicial branches.
PDF HERE:
http://www.dni.gov/files/documents/Facts%20on%20the%20Collection%20of%20Intelligence%20Pursuant%20to%20Section%20702.pdf
UPDATE to add this:
Details of secret Internet data collection program declassified
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/304349-administration-declassifies-prism-information#ixzz2VfQucuIA
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Cuz I know some don't like the PDF link if they have low storage or low bandwidth.
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, DC 20511
June 8, 2013
DNI Statement on the Collection of Intelligence Pursuant to Section 702
of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Over the last week we have seen reckless disclosures of intelligence community measures used to keep Americans safe. In a rush to publish, media outlets have not given the full contextincluding the extent to which these programs are overseen by all three branches of governmentto these effective tools.
In particular, the surveillance activities published in The Guardian and The Washington Post are lawful and conducted under authorities widely known and discussed, and fully debated and authorized by Congress. Their purpose is to obtain foreign intelligence information, including information necessary to thwart terrorist and cyber attacks against the United States and its allies.
Our ability to discuss these activities is limited by our need to protect intelligence sources and methods. Disclosing information about the specific methods the government uses to collect communications can obviously give our enemies a playbook of how to avoid detection. Nonetheless, Section 702 has proven vital to keeping the nation and our allies safe. It continues to be one of our most important tools for the protection of the nations security.
However, there are significant misimpressions that have resulted from the recent articles. Not all the inaccuracies can be corrected without further revealing classified information. I have, however, declassified for release the attached details about the recent unauthorized disclosures in hope that it will help dispel some of the myths and add necessary context to what has been published.
James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence
http://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/191-press-releases-2013/872-dni-statement-on-the-collection-of-intelligence-pursuant-to-section-702-of-the-foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)I could go on and on and on.
But, I won't.
Let them watch Faux Snooze for themselves!!