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NSA PRISM Secret Program

PRISM Secret Program

Correction: An earlier e-mail misidentified the source of information about the NSA's PRISM program. A senior administration official told USA TODAY that the secret National Security Administration program dubbed PRISM was recently reauthorized by Congress after extensive hearings and debate. The program does not allow for the targeting of any U.S. Citizen or of any person located within the United States, said the source, who is not authorized to comment publicly. Silicon Valley giants Microsoft, Google and Facebook say they have not participated in the program. Ref. USAToday

Program Secret PRISM NSA

The National Security Agency's classified PRISM program is an internal government computer system used to manage foreign intelligence collected from Internet and other electronic service providers, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said. The disclosure Saturday marks the most extensive explanation from the government of what the program is, how it works and what it is authorized to collect. Clapper said he declassified the details of the NSA's surveillance and intelligence collection programs "In hope that it will help dispel some of the myths and add necessary context to what has been published." The Washington Post and the London-based Guardian newspaper reported Thursday night that the NSA and FBI siphoned personal data from the main computer servers of nine major U.S. Internet firms. Ref. USAToday

NSA PRISM Secret Program History & Civil Business Politics

Edward Snowden, 29, worked for a series of U.S. Intelligence contractors and acknowledged Sunday that he leaked key documents to "The Guardian," The paper reported. Ref. USAToday

Program Secret PRISM NSA

The Guardian newspaper has named Edward Snowden, 29, as the source who leaked material from the National Security Agency.

His identity is being revealed at his request, the paper reported Sunday on its website.

He is a former technical assistant for the CIA and has been working at the NSA for the past four years as an employee of various outside contractors, the paper reported.

On Wednesday, the Guardian disclosed a secret order from a U.S. Intelligence court that required Verizon Business Network Services to give telephone records detailing the time, location and telephone numbers involved in domestic calls from April 25 to July 19.

Thursday, the Washington Post and the Guardian disclosed the existence of PRISM, reporting that the program allows NSA analysts to extract details of customer activities -- including "Audio and video chats, photographs, e-mails, documents" And other materials -- from computers at Microsoft, Google, Apple and other Internet firms. Ref. CNN

Program Secret PRISM NSA

What is the big deal about this, hasn't everyone already known that the government tracks almost everything we do?

NSA PRISM Secret Program

We all probably do but its kind of serious when they admit it because now they feel they can do it without being held accountable for it.

NSA PRISM Secret Program

Media manhunt on in Hong Kong for avowed secrets leaker

Hong Kong unlikely to take action against Edward Snowden. Ref. Source 6

NSA PRISM Secret Program Politics Business Civil & History

The consulting firm Booz Allen issued a statement Tuesday confirming that Edward Snowden, 29, was an employee of the firm and that he was fired on Monday after he revealed he was the source of leaks detailing the National Security Agency's collection of phone and Internet data. Snowden was employed less than three months and had a salary rate of $122,000, the firm said. Ref. USAToday