> Google has stated pretty clearly that someone at Google has to check off before an account is pushed to a machine that the government
my understanding of PRISM and all this is that the entire internet is vacuumed and everything is stored, just in case. I cannot imagine a guy "checking off" on every email or every mailbox for millions of gmail users every day or even once a month manually. With 11K terabytes of digital data created per hour by US, I cannot imagine any sort of manual system being implemented.
It has to be totally entirely automatic, otherwise it won't fly.
Any understanding of PRISM outside the classified world seems to be incomplete. Some people version of PRISM seems to involve caching the whole Internet. That might sound implausible, yes. But we won't know until or if the whole thing gets declassified.
Yes, but that vacuuming is apparently being done, just not under PRISM (for example, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A). PRISM is just one method of getting the data.
There was a fifth Powerpoint slide published by the Guardian[1] which clearly distinguished between PRISM and "Upstream" methods which collect "communications on fiber cables and infrastructure as data flows past."
The PRISM program mentioned in the Powerpoint slides is very likely the same program that is mentioned in unclassified documents such as Army Field Manual (FM) 3-55, Information Collection[2]:
> 6-12. Two joint ISR planning systems—the collection management mission application and the Planning Tool for Resource, Integration, Synchronization, and Management (PRISM)—help facilitate access to joint resources. PRISM, a subsystem of collection management mission application, is a Web-based management and synchronization tool used to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of theater operations. PRISM creates a collaborative environment for resource managers, collection managers, exploitation managers, and customers. In joint collection management operations, the collection manager coordinates with the operations directorate to forward collection requirements to the component commander exercising tactical control over the theater reconnaissance and surveillance assets. A mission tasking order goes to the unit responsible for the collection operations. At the selected unit, the mission manager makes the final choice of platforms, equipment, and personnel required for the collection operations based on operational considerations such as maintenance, schedules, training, and experience. The Air Force uses the collection management mission application. This application is a Web-centric information systems architecture that incorporates existing programs sponsored by several commands, Services, and agencies. It also provides tools for recording, gathering, organizing, and tracking intelligence collection requirements for all disciplines
They don't need to store all the data if they can just compel whoever is storing it to give them access to said data. (Which seems to be what is alleged).
my understanding of PRISM and all this is that the entire internet is vacuumed and everything is stored, just in case. I cannot imagine a guy "checking off" on every email or every mailbox for millions of gmail users every day or even once a month manually. With 11K terabytes of digital data created per hour by US, I cannot imagine any sort of manual system being implemented.
It has to be totally entirely automatic, otherwise it won't fly.