PRISM

PRISM is a surveillance program operated by the United States National Security Agency (NSA). The program was authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the Protect America Act of 2007. It was publicly revealed in 2013 by Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor.

Overview

PRISM is a tool used by the NSA to collect digital communications from internet companies. The program allows the NSA to access email, chat logs, videos, photos, stored data, VoIP conversations, file transfers, video conferencing, and other social networking details. PRISM is reportedly the number one source of raw intelligence used for NSA analytic reports.

History

PRISM was launched in 2007 under the Bush administration following the passage of the Protect America Act. The program was expanded in 2008 with the passage of the FISA Amendments Act, which provided immunity to private companies that cooperated voluntarily with U.S. intelligence agencies.

Revelation

The existence of PRISM was revealed in June 2013 by Edward Snowden. The documents provided by Snowden revealed that the NSA has direct access to the servers of major US internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple.

Responses

The revelation of PRISM sparked a global debate on privacy, national security, and the limits of government surveillance. Many internet companies named in the leaked documents have denied knowledge of and participation in PRISM.

See also

• Edward Snowden
• National Security Agency
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
• Protect America Act
• Surveillance

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