Private data security

Spy Chief Pressed for Number of Americans Ensnared in Data Espionage

Prism, revealed by Snowden, is expiring next year. What data has it collected for the government?

U.S. lawmakers are pressing the nation’s top intelligence official to estimate the number of Americans ensnared in email surveillance and other such spying on foreign targets, saying the information was needed to gauge possible reforms to the controversial programs.

Eight Democrats and six Republicans made the request to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in a letter seen by Reuters on Friday, reflecting the continued bipartisan concerns over the scope of U.S. data espionage.

“You have willingly shared information with us about the important and actionable intelligence obtained under these surveillance programs,” wrote the lawmakers, all members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee.

“Now we require your assistance in making a determination that the privacy protections in place are functioning as designed.”