PRISM

[Griff]

It changed with digitalization (?) of communications. Old phone tapping required an agent on the line listening as they didn't have an efficient way to collect and store the analog information. Folks who support easy collection of data argue that it became much harder to follow the bad guys when mobile devices came on line. I'd argue just the opposite, they've gone from a small focused surveillance system to an enormous one with much more capacity using the excuse of difficulty to make their work much much easier than it was for the guy tapping in by hand.

[Lamplighter]

Yes, I agree with Griff.

It is surprising to me that the news has not reported definitively
on whether the digital media (Comcast, etc.) and phone companies
(Century Link, ATT, etc.) are actually storing all the emails, text docs, pics, etc.
and how long it would be kept by such (private) companies.

Or, whether it's all being passed on to the feds daily,
and they are keeping it (forever) ... without reading or interpreting the content.
The daily content would be enormous !

I've read that voice and IM messaging are not kept, but emails might be.

Be that as it may, again I think the personal identification and content of emails, etc.
can be collected legally, but cannot be reviewed or interpreted until a FISA warrant has be issued.

[Griff]

I guess I've been assuming that all communications are passing to the Feds in real time. They claim they have the authority to store the data for 5 years.