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"Let’s turn to Prism: the streamlined, electronic seizure of communications from Internet companies." OK, good so far, PRISM does indeed streamline and automate
by mpyne 13y ago
"Let’s turn to Prism: the streamlined, electronic seizure of communications from Internet companies." OK, good so far, PRISM does indeed streamline and automate the process...
"... Prism is further proof that the agency is collecting vast amounts of e-mails and other messages — including communications to, from and between Americans."
??? PRISM was the one thing I stopped being worried about as soon as I figured out what it was. The government has always been able to subpoena a third-party for records pursuant to an actual investigation, and even Google seemed to be satisfied with the idea that specific PRISM requests have been legal (even if they forced NSA to get a real warrant first).
Other things may indicate NSA is hoovering emails like a Mob boss hoovering blow but PRISM isn't one of them. PRISM has to be turned on to acquire data, unlike other NSA SIGINT this one's not actually magic.
I'm kind of disappointed by the opinion piece because if they only took efforts to be factual they would probably be able to make a much more persuasive case (e.g. by bringing up Carnivore or 641A-style data interception instead of a system that queries specific individual users one-at-a-time).
- dram 13y agoSo from Wikipedia, Boundless Informant uses 504 separate DNR (electronic surveillance program records) and DNI (metadata) collection sources known as SIGADs. In a 30-day period, they collected 3 billion data elements from within the US from these SIGADS. And the PRISM document says it is the "the number one source of raw intelligence used for NSA analytic reports". Doesn't that mean that PRISM is the majority source of those 3 billion data elements? And why did Page, Zuckerberg and Apple say they never heard of PRISM? Perhaps I am wrong but it's somewhat confusing!
- mpyne 13y agoIf 2.999 billion elements never make it into those analytic reports then it may very well be possible that of the remainder that manual systems like PRISM end up being the majority source. As you note, there are hundreds of SIGADs, of which PRISM is just one. > And why did Page, Zuckerberg and Apple say they never heard of PRISM? Because PRISM is the name for the NSA end of that service and associated data tools. The company end of that service would be whatever they called the system they use for FISA warrant/NSL compliance.
- flyinRyan 13y agoHN's own PRISM apologist. You haven't figured out what PRISM is, you don't have a clue. But when, otherwise very conservative (by this I mean "less likely to fly off the handle") individuals start getting up in arms, you should realize this is probably a big deal. But then, you probably do realize it.