Leaked Top Secret Document Confirms NSA Domestic Spy Program

The National Security Agency has obtained direct access to the systems of Google, Facebook, Apple and other U.S. internet giants, according to top secret documents obtained by the Guardian.

 

The NSA access is part of a previously undisclosed program called Prism, which allows officials to collect material including search history, the content of emails, file transfers and live chats, the document says.

The Guardian has verified the authenticity of the document, classified as top secret with no distribution to foreign allies – which was apparently used to train intelligence operatives on the capabilities of the program. The document claims "collection directly from the servers" of major U.S. service providers.

Google denied having a "back door" for the government to access private user data.  Apple said that it had "never heard" of Prism.

The NSA access was enabled by changes to US surveillance law introduced under President Bush and renewed under Obama in December 2012.  It opens the possibility of communications made entirely within the U.S. being collected without warrants.