Mine Data. Dig Up Terrorists.

“You can’t have 100 percent security and also then have 100 percent privacy and zero inconvenience” These words were part of a statement made by President Obama in San Jose regarding revelations of data gathering to support anti-terrorism efforts. “We’re going to have to make some choices as a society.” With these words the President framed the debate over the sweeping and scouring of phone logs and emails by U.S. intelligence services as part of Prism. We’ve all heard about it and hopefully thought about it. It isn’t quite a cover-up since the effort has congressional oversight and the tacit approval of the federal courts. All the major gatherers of Big Data have been tapped to provide what the National Security Agency has requested. Overseas communications are apparently flagged.