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New slide from leaked PRISM presentation promotes directly collecting data from servers

New slide from leaked PRISM presentation promotes directly collecting data from servers

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While many companies allegedly involved in government program PRISM have denied that they gave agencies access to their information, The Guardian says the leaked PRISM slideshow contradicts these claims. Earlier today, they released an additional image from the 41-slide deck, apparently showing the "two types of information" that can be collected under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. The top method suggests tapping directly into infrastructure like fiber optic cables to collect data. The bottom, labeled "PRISM," suggests "collection directly from the servers of these US Service Providers: Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple." To the side, a bubble reminds an audience that "You Should Use Both."

Virtually all the companies involved have denied ever hearing about the PRISM program, and several have come out categorically denying that they participated in any broad-ranging data collection program. Yahoo, Facebook, and Google have all said that they only hand over user information after reviewing individual requests, claiming that they then provide as little data as possible. But early wording uniformly said that they had not given "direct access," something that this slide flatly contradicts — unless the access didn't happen with companies' consent. In the days since PRISM was revealed, use of the phrase has slowly faded away, but these discrepancies continue to create a muddled picture of the program.