PRISM scandal
PRISM scandal （棱镜门）
PRISM is a clandestine electronic surveillance program operated by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) since 2007. PRISM is a government codename for a data collection effort known officially as US-984XN.
Under the highly classified program, NSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been tapping directly into the central servers of nine U.S. internet companies, extracting audio, video, photographs, e-mails, documents and connection logs that enable analysts to track a person's movements and contacts over time. Participating technology companies reportedly include Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube and Apple.
The program's existence, leaked by 29-year-old Edward Snowden, former CIA technical assistant and current employee of the defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, was first reported by The Guardian on June 5, 2013 and then by the Washington Post June 6. Snowden said that by leaking the information he hoped to inform citizens about how 2001's Patriot Act is used to gather private information. Though the Obama Administration insists PRISM is a necessary weapon in the fight against terrorism, the program has sparked international outrage and concern for privacy.
The Mira Hotel in Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui said that Snowden had checked into the hotel and stayed for more than a week before checking out on June 10, 2013. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Leung Chun-ying said June 15 that Hong Kong's government would handle the case in accordance with established laws, if the U.S. government requests help.
Speaking at a hearing before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on June 13, FBI Director Robert Mueller defended the classified surveillance program and vowed to hold the leaker responsible for the disclosure.
Ben Rhodes, Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, said June 14 that President Obama would defend the use of PRISM at the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland June 17 and 18.
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough declined June 16 to enter into the debate over whether Snowden is a hero or a traitor. McDonough did say that he has been unaware of Snowden's whereabouts since Snowden checked out of his Hong Kong hotel June 10.
