The collection takes place at top-level telecommunications facilities within the United States, choke points through which most traffic will flow, including wireless. This type of surveillance is referred to as Upstream collection.
BLARNEY was first brought to public view in a PRISM slide revealed by Edward Snowden.[2] The FY 2013 budget for BLARNEY was $65.96 million.[4]
Initially it was assumed that BLARNEY was the program under which the NSA cooperated with AT&T and that among the tapping facilities were AT&T's Room 641A in San Francisco, California, revealed in 2006 by Mark Klein, and another in New Jersey.[3] However, new NSA documents released on August 15, 2015 show that the cooperation with AT&T takes places under FAIRVIEW, and that Room 641A is probably part of that program, instead of BLARNEY.[5]
The new documents about FAIRVIEW also show that this isn't a larger umbrella program comprising BLARNEY, OAKSTAR, STORMBREW and others, as was said by Thomas Drake. Those programs are very similar, but associated with different companies, and may have slightly different legal arrangements with the NSA. Arrangements with corporations are associated with the NSA's Special Source Operations division (SSO).[5][6]
Legal authoritiesEdit
BLARNEY operates under three legal authorities: NSA FISA, FBI FISA and section 702 FAA. Collection of data under the FISA authority requires a court order from the FISA Court (FISC) in which the identifiers ("selectors") for the target are mentioned. The legal process to acquire a court order can be expedited and approved within 2 days. [7] BLARNEY collection under the FISA authority is the main contributor to the President's Daily Brief and accounts for over 11,000 product reports a year. [8]
WorkingsEdit
To gather intelligence, algorithms are used to sift through the communications, and forward on, for storage and possible analysis, those which are believed likely to contain foreign intelligence. The first stage of filtering is done by the telecoms themselves, at the request of the NSA. The filters are not always perfect, and sometimes purely domestic communications are caught.
In the event that domestic communications are swept up, the minimization procedures are applied. The procedures require that most "incidental" communications between U.S. persons be destroyed, with a few exceptions.[9] The exceptions include: the content is encrypted, it contains foreign intelligence, or is evidence of a crime. This last exception allows the NSA to pass to the Drug Enforcement Administration's Special Operations Division (SOD) information relating to drug trafficking. The program has been likened to Project SHAMROCK, in which the NSA, and its predecessor organization were given daily microfilm copies of all telegrams entering and exiting the United States.[3]
SIGADsEdit
BLARNEY is known to be associated with two SIGADs of the same name.[1] The designation for PRISM (US-984XN) is very similar to the designations of the BLARNEY SIGADs: US-984 and US-984X.[1][2] Accordingly, the speaker's notes of an NSA presentation that was released on August 15, 2015, say that "PRISM falls under BLARNEY, but is just one access of many".[8]
Designation
Covername
Legal AuthoritySee Note
Key Targets
Type of Information collected
Remarks
US-984 (PDDG:AX)
BLARNEY
FISA
Counter Proliferation
Counter Terrorism
Diplomatic
Economic
Military
Foreign Government (i.e. Political/Intentions of Nations)
Transit authority: A legal authority that states communications that transit the United States are collectible, provided that both endpoints are foreign.
^ abc"NSA Documents Show United States Spied Brazilian Oil Giant". September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
^ abcStaff (June 6, 2013). "NSA Slides Explain the PRISM Data-Collection Program". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
^ abcSiobhan Gorman & Jennifer Valentio-DeVries (August 20, 2013). . The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
^Craig Timberg & Barton Gellman (August 30, 2013). "NSA paying U.S. companies for access to communications networks". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
^ abElectrospaces.net: FAIRVIEW: Collecting foreign intelligence inside the US, August 31, 2015
^Kloc, Joe (July 12, 2013). "Forget PRISM: FAIRVIEW is the NSA's project to "own the Internet"". Retrieved September 11, 2013.
^See page 143 'No Place To Hide' by Glenn Greenwald (Snowden Archive 050113) Expedited Court Approval Process
^ abSee page 14 of the NSA presentation SSO Corporate Portfolio Overview
^"Judge's Opinion on N.S.A. Program". The New York Times. August 21, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
^ abDrum, Kevin (June 8, 2013). "Map of the Day: Who the NSA Listens To". Retrieved September 9, 2013.
August 28, 2023
blarney, code, name, blarney, communications, surveillance, program, national, security, agency, united, states, started, 1978, operated, under, foreign, intelligence, surveillance, expanded, after, september, attacks, collection, takes, place, level, telecomm. BLARNEY is a communications surveillance program of the National Security Agency NSA of the United States It started in 1978 operated under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 1 2 and was expanded after the September 11 attacks 3 The collection takes place at top level telecommunications facilities within the United States choke points through which most traffic will flow including wireless This type of surveillance is referred to as Upstream collection BLARNEY was first brought to public view in a PRISM slide revealed by Edward Snowden 2 The FY 2013 budget for BLARNEY was 65 96 million 4 Contents 1 Misrepresentations 2 Legal authorities 3 Workings 4 SIGADs 5 Media relating to BLARNEY 6 See also 7 ReferencesMisrepresentations EditInitially it was assumed that BLARNEY was the program under which the NSA cooperated with AT amp T and that among the tapping facilities were AT amp T s Room 641A in San Francisco California revealed in 2006 by Mark Klein and another in New Jersey 3 However new NSA documents released on August 15 2015 show that the cooperation with AT amp T takes places under FAIRVIEW and that Room 641A is probably part of that program instead of BLARNEY 5 The new documents about FAIRVIEW also show that this isn t a larger umbrella program comprising BLARNEY OAKSTAR STORMBREW and others as was said by Thomas Drake Those programs are very similar but associated with different companies and may have slightly different legal arrangements with the NSA Arrangements with corporations are associated with the NSA s Special Source Operations division SSO 5 6 Legal authorities EditBLARNEY operates under three legal authorities NSA FISA FBI FISA and section 702 FAA Collection of data under the FISA authority requires a court order from the FISA Court FISC in which the identifiers selectors for the target are mentioned The legal process to acquire a court order can be expedited and approved within 2 days 7 BLARNEY collection under the FISA authority is the main contributor to the President s Daily Brief and accounts for over 11 000 product reports a year 8 Workings EditTo gather intelligence algorithms are used to sift through the communications and forward on for storage and possible analysis those which are believed likely to contain foreign intelligence The first stage of filtering is done by the telecoms themselves at the request of the NSA The filters are not always perfect and sometimes purely domestic communications are caught In the event that domestic communications are swept up the minimization procedures are applied The procedures require that most incidental communications between U S persons be destroyed with a few exceptions 9 The exceptions include the content is encrypted it contains foreign intelligence or is evidence of a crime This last exception allows the NSA to pass to the Drug Enforcement Administration s Special Operations Division SOD information relating to drug trafficking The program has been likened to Project SHAMROCK in which the NSA and its predecessor organization were given daily microfilm copies of all telegrams entering and exiting the United States 3 SIGADs EditBLARNEY is known to be associated with two SIGADs of the same name 1 The designation for PRISM US 984XN is very similar to the designations of the BLARNEY SIGADs US 984 and US 984X 1 2 Accordingly the speaker s notes of an NSA presentation that was released on August 15 2015 say that PRISM falls under BLARNEY but is just one access of many 8 Designation Covername Legal AuthoritySee Note Key Targets Type of Information collected RemarksUS 984 PDDG AX BLARNEY FISA Counter Proliferation Counter Terrorism Diplomatic Economic Military Foreign Government i e Political Intentions of Nations DNI Strong Selectors DNR Strong Selectors DNI Circuits DNR Circuits Mobile Wireless FISA Court authorized communications Known facilities AT amp T s Room 641A in San Francisco California AT amp T site in New JerseyUS 984X BLARNEY FAANote SIGADs not otherwise designated are presumed to operate under the legal authority of Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act FAA Glossary DNI Digital Network Intelligence 10 DNR Dial Number Recognition 10 Transit authority A legal authority that states communications that transit the United States are collectible provided that both endpoints are foreign Media relating to BLARNEY Edit Upstream Map of International Cables Upstream Transit Authority Upstream Map of Transit Authority Upstream Unique Aspects Upstream Corporate Portfolio Blarney at a Glance Blarney at a glance readable version Blarney SIGAD Blarney chart top 10 collection SIGADsSee also Edit2013 mass surveillance disclosuresReferences Edit a b c NSA Documents Show United States Spied Brazilian Oil Giant September 8 2013 Retrieved September 9 2013 a b c Staff June 6 2013 NSA Slides Explain the PRISM Data Collection Program The Washington Post Retrieved September 9 2013 a b c Siobhan Gorman amp Jennifer Valentio DeVries August 20 2013 New Details Show Broader NSA Surveillance Reach The Wall Street Journal Archived from the original on January 3 2015 Retrieved September 11 2013 Craig Timberg amp Barton Gellman August 30 2013 NSA paying U S companies for access to communications networks The Washington Post Retrieved August 31 2013 a b Electrospaces net FAIRVIEW Collecting foreign intelligence inside the US August 31 2015 Kloc Joe July 12 2013 Forget PRISM FAIRVIEW is the NSA s project to own the Internet Retrieved September 11 2013 See page 143 No Place To Hide by Glenn Greenwald Snowden Archive 050113 Expedited Court Approval Process a b See page 14 of the NSA presentation SSO Corporate Portfolio Overview Judge s Opinion on N S A Program The New York Times August 21 2013 Retrieved September 10 2013 a b Drum Kevin June 8 2013 Map of the Day Who the NSA Listens To Retrieved September 9 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blarney code name amp oldid 1139228844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
