PRISM: The Cloud May Be a Pre-Built Collection Station

The attacks of September 11, 2001 led the United States to expand electronic intelligence collection. In 2008, Congress placed Section 702 into the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The provision allows the government to target non-US persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States in order to obtain foreign intelligence. It does not require an individual warrant for every person. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reviews targeting, minimization, and querying procedures for each certification period.