NSA would identify surveillance targets and
send them to the FBI data intercept technology unit.
The FBI intern would forward the list to Internet service providers,
together with a subpoena demanding to turn over the data.
Corporate executives of several companies identified in the late documents,
said they had no knowledge of PRISM and
denied handing over such information to the government.
Such denials may be expected because the FISA amendment act forbids companies
from disclosing, having received such an order, let alone acting upon it.
Despite corporate denials and the fact Congress closed the program in 2015,
allegations that Yahoo had cooperated with NSA surveillance programs
threatened to overturn a $4.8 billion sale to Verizon in 2016.
The point of this cautionary tale is that cybersecurity presents
dangers from both sides.
Both from the good guys as well as the bad guys.
Still it is important to remember the following.
1, the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act allows
employers to monitor company computers, laptops, and cell phones.
2, legal experts suggest companies develop clear monitoring policies,
limit monitoring to work related activities and
notifying employees that they are subject to monitoring.
3, the Fourth Amendment prohibits
surveillance of US citizens without a warrant indicating probable cause.
4, the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
establishes a court system for seeking surveillance warrants.
5, the PRISM program took advantage of a 2008
FISA amendment that allowed surveillance for up to a week without a warrant.
And 6, following the Edward Snowden leaks in 2013,
Congress shutdown the PRISM program in 2015.
Please join me next time.
We take a closer look at how the US military is preparing to protect
national cyberspace.
Cheers.