I find it fascinating that they are essentially corroborating everything Greenwald and Snowden have said, except just being nitpicky on tone and scope. Especially this:
"One feature is the system's ability to limit what an analyst can do with a tool, based on the source of the collection and each analyst's defined responsibilities. Not every analyst can perform every function, and no analyst can operate freely."
I seem to remember almost those exact words coming from the first Snowden interview:
"Any analyst at any time can target anyone, any selector, anywhere. Where those communications will be picked up depends on the range of the sensor networks and the authorities that analyst is empowered with. Not all analysts have the ability to target everything. But I sitting at my desk certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone from you or your accountant to a Federal judge to even the President if I had a personal e-mail."
I'm going to file these paragraphs away, so the next time I need to bullshit someone, I'll have some great examples. Not only do they hire the best mathematicians and scientists, but I'm sure there's an English major or two.
Where freely means...? Maybe many analysts can do almost everything, except access personal details of higher ranking NSA officials. Without a proper definition it's a meaningless statement.
Incorrect (former NSA system administrator here). We're "read on" to special compartments beyond the scope of our need to know due to the nature of our work. It would be quite difficult for me to correct an issue if I was unable to see and/or duplicate that issue.
What permissions low level analysts have or don't have is pretty low on the list of things to worry about. I'm a lot more worried about the people at the top who set up this horrifying system in the first place, have lied about it at every opportunity, have access to the full scope of the information, and can use it to enact whatever deranged schemes enter their deranged power-mad brains.
Quite right, I am less concerned about my nosy-neighbor who happens to be a low level NSA analyst and more concerned about a hypothetical J Edgar Hoover Jr.
"One feature is the system's ability to limit what an analyst can do with a tool, based on the source of the collection and each analyst's defined responsibilities. Not every analyst can perform every function, and no analyst can operate freely."
I seem to remember almost those exact words coming from the first Snowden interview:
"Any analyst at any time can target anyone, any selector, anywhere. Where those communications will be picked up depends on the range of the sensor networks and the authorities that analyst is empowered with. Not all analysts have the ability to target everything. But I sitting at my desk certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone from you or your accountant to a Federal judge to even the President if I had a personal e-mail."