U.S. snooping web servers also
Intel chief says Web, Verizon phone leaks damage security
WASHINGTON — The National Security Agency and the FBI are tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U. S. Internet companies, extracting chats, photographs, e-mails, documents, and connection logs that enable analysts to track one target or a whole network of associates, according to a top-secret document obtained by The Washington Post.
The Post said the NSA program, code-named PRISM, extracts what it wants by “Collection directly from the servers of these U. S. Service Providers: Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple.”
News of the Internet surveillance of Americans followed Wednesday’s reports about a secret court order requiring Verizon to turn over records of all landline and mobile telephone calls of its customers, both within the U. S. and between the U.S. and other countries. Taken together, the Internet and phone surveillance revela- tions are giving Americans their first look at the stunning measures taken by U. S. intelligence in the name of national security.
The top U. S. intelligence official denounced the disclosure of the secret documents Thursday night. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called the Post’s disclosure of the Internet surveillance program “reprehensible” and said it risks Americans’ secu- rity. He said the leak that revealed the phone record program would affect how America’s enemies behave and make it harder to understand their intentions.
“The unauthorized disclosure of a top secret U.S. court document threatens potentially long-lasting and irreversible harm to our ability to identify and respond to the many threats facing our nation,”
Clapper said in an unusual late-night statement.
At the same time, he moved to correct misunderstandings about both programs, taking the rare step of declassifying some details about the authority used in the phone records program and alleging that articles about the Internet program “contain numerous inaccuracies.” He did not specify what those inaccuracies might be.
Clapper said the Internet program can’t be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the U. S. He said a secret court, Congress and the executive branch all oversee the program and that extensive procedures make sure the acquisition, retention and dissemination of data accidentally collected about Americans is kept to a minimum.
Clapper acknowledged the risks in publicly discussing details about the phone records program but said he wanted to correct the “misleading impression” created by the article that disclosed its existence. The secret court authorizes the phone records program and reviews it every 30 days, Clapper said, adding that the Justice Department oversees information acquired under the court order. He said only a small fraction of the records are examinee because most are unrelated to any inquiries into terrorism activities.
The PRISM program for Internet surveillance was launched during President Can you hear me now? The federal government can because of a secret court order requiring Verizon to give the National Security Agency records of all its customers’ calls. The Obama administration called the phone records “a critical tool in protecting the nation.” George W. Bush’s second term. The court-approved program is focused on foreign communications traffic, which often flows through U.S. servers even when sent from one overseas location to another, the Post reported.
In four orders, which remain classified, the secret court defined massive data sets as “facilities” and agreed to occasionally certify that the government had reasonable procedures in place to minimize collection of “U. S. persons” data without a warrant.
Web-related companies contacted by The Post said they had no knowledge of the program and responded only to individual requests for information.
“We do not provide any government organization with direct access to Facebook servers,” said Joe Sullivan, chief security officer for Facebook. “When Facebook is asked for data or information about specific individuals, we carefully scrutinize any such request for compliance with all applicable laws.”
More on the phone surveillance program:
Q: What information is being obtained?
A: The secret court order called it “metadata” that consisted of telephone numbers and the times and duration of calls, but not the contents of the phones calls or the names and addresses of those who owned the phones.
Q: How does the government get access to this mass of data?
A: Through a court order and by relying on a provision in the USA Patriot Act. It says the government may obtain business records, phone records or other “tangible things” by “showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the tangible things sought are relevant to an authorized investigation.”
Q: Who decides on these requests?
A: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, whose judges operate in secret. They are appointed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts. U. S. Dist. Judge Roger Vinson from Florida approved the Verizon order.
Q: Is it constitutional for the government to secretly obtain the phone records of ordinary Americans? A: Probably. Q: How has this broad surveillance program remained secret?
A: Because the Senate and House voted to keep it secret from the American people.