I received an email from my nephew
suggesting I look at a Twit video by Steve Gibson, in which he explains some of
the technicalities of the National Security Agency's Prism Program. I did so and
will report below. For those who may want to spend the time to look at it
themselves, the Internet address is http://twit.tv/show/security-now/408.
To avoid a lot of the upfront commercials, start at the timeline about one
quarter of the way from the start. It will still take you more than an
hour.
NSA has said that it is collecting only mega data. Mega data means that the data is only ancillary to the message, namely when it was sent, to whom it was sent and such related items, but does not contain the context of the message itself. According to Steve Gibson, that is only partially true. Email data is collected in total, including context.
Internet suppliers such as Google and Yahoo have said that they had not allowed access to their servers by NSA. That is true. NSA has not needed access to those servers, since NASA is wiretapping the Internet on the upstream side of the servers. Most of the information on the Internet is being transferred by fiber optics using light. NSA has tapped into that light system, which is likely the basis of it using the term "Prism" to describe their operation.
In interrogation by Sen. Wyden, NSA Director Clapper said that NASA is not collecting phone data on millions of Americans. That statement is false.
Whistleblower Snowden had taken an oath to not reveal NSA information and has violated that. It is my opinion that he is subject to prosecution. Similarly, NSA director Clapper should be subject to prosecution for lying to Congress.
Separate from the Twit video, Ex VP Cheney has come out strongly in support of the NSA surveillance program, as being fundamentally necessary to protection of the US public against terrorism. I believe Cheney has taken an unnecessary excessive position. There is no question but that we need a surveillance program as an aid in the determent of terrorist activities, but we also need to protect our citizens from unreasonable search and seizure as required by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. In my opinion, the present operation of Prism is unconstitutionally broad. It can and should be modified to greater specificity with respect to suspicious individuals.
NSA has said that it is collecting only mega data. Mega data means that the data is only ancillary to the message, namely when it was sent, to whom it was sent and such related items, but does not contain the context of the message itself. According to Steve Gibson, that is only partially true. Email data is collected in total, including context.
Internet suppliers such as Google and Yahoo have said that they had not allowed access to their servers by NSA. That is true. NSA has not needed access to those servers, since NASA is wiretapping the Internet on the upstream side of the servers. Most of the information on the Internet is being transferred by fiber optics using light. NSA has tapped into that light system, which is likely the basis of it using the term "Prism" to describe their operation.
In interrogation by Sen. Wyden, NSA Director Clapper said that NASA is not collecting phone data on millions of Americans. That statement is false.
Whistleblower Snowden had taken an oath to not reveal NSA information and has violated that. It is my opinion that he is subject to prosecution. Similarly, NSA director Clapper should be subject to prosecution for lying to Congress.
Separate from the Twit video, Ex VP Cheney has come out strongly in support of the NSA surveillance program, as being fundamentally necessary to protection of the US public against terrorism. I believe Cheney has taken an unnecessary excessive position. There is no question but that we need a surveillance program as an aid in the determent of terrorist activities, but we also need to protect our citizens from unreasonable search and seizure as required by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. In my opinion, the present operation of Prism is unconstitutionally broad. It can and should be modified to greater specificity with respect to suspicious individuals.
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