News outlets today are abuzz about the National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) TOP SECRET PRISM program that allegedly had direct access to Google, Facebook, Yahoo!, and other big internet companies. The story goes that it’s sweeping up a ton of data for national security purposes. People are very concerned not only about the broad nature of the program, but also because their government might be snooping on them.
The more I read about this program, the more I am reminded of Palantir, the creepily-named company I first discussed in November 2011. Looks like I’m not the only one making this connection. A TPM reader also suspects a connection.
Although this story is getting released before the weekend, I’m sure it will be all the rage on the Sunday-morning shows. Hopefully it will carry forward and a discussion about our counterterrorism and surveillance state legislation will ensue.
Sadly, I’m not holding my breath that something positive will come from it. After all, I keep reading interviews that people are applauding the TSA for not letting pocket knives on planes because they still feel unsafe after 9/11.