(June 8, 2013 at 4:21 pm)Tiberius Wrote:(June 8, 2013 at 4:15 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: Given Verizon's willingness to turn over call metadata, it would not be without precedent.Metadata is still quite limited. That doesn't make the fact they gave it over any better, but still, it's far from what the PRISM program is claiming, which is effectively that the NSA have direct access to the infrastructure of these companies.
In fact, I'd say that the fact Verizon aren't (to our knowledge) giving over raw phone data, the PRISM program probably isn't as vast or as in depth as claimed.
Yes, metadata is somewhat limited - it doesn't give access to the content of communications, but does allow a lot of inferences based upon who talks to whom.
As for your second point, I've heard a lot of conflicting claims. I would find it hard to believe that they can monitor everything - but it would not surprise me in the least to learn they can monitor, on demand and without warrant, a very great deal.
Were they getting warrants on probable cause, I would not find the thought terribly disturbing.
