> the term "direct access", which we've seen is the antithesis of forthrightness. This seems unfair. There was a specific accusation or suggestion of direct ac

> the term "direct access", which we've seen is the antithesis of forthrightness. This seems unfair. There was a specific accusation or suggestion of direct access, so it's not (or at least not necessarily) misdirection for Google and friends to specifically deny it. It certainly doesn't answer all questions about PRISM, but between the denial of direct access, and the denial of any Verizon-scale order which would amount to direct access in all but name, you get a pretty forthright statement limiting the possible extent of the NSA data-gathering.