Clapper: U.S. Surveillance Activities Are Lawful

You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Clapper: U.S. Surveillance Activities Are Lawful 06/08/2013 04:35 PM CDT Clapper: U.S. Surveillance Activities Are Lawful American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 8, 2013 - Despite what some media outlets are reporting, anti-terrorism surveillance activities carried out by the U.S. government under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act are lawful, James R. Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement issued today. Clapper's statement reads as follows: Over the last week we have seen reckless disclosures of intelligence community measures used to keep Americans safe. In a rush to publish, media outlets have not given the full context -- including the extent to which these programs are overseen by all three branches of government -- to these effective tools. In particular, the surveillance activities published in The Guardian and The Washington Post are lawful and conducted under authorities widely known and discussed, and fully debated and authorized by Congress. Their purpose is to obtain foreign intelligence information, including information necessary to thwart terrorist and cyber attacks against the United States and its allies. Our ability to discuss these activities is limited by our need to protect intelligence sources and methods. Disclosing information about the specific methods the government uses to collect communications can obviously give our enemies a "playbook" of how to avoid detection. Nonetheless, Section 702 has proven vital to keeping the nation and our allies safe. It continues to be one of our most important tools for the protection of the nation's security. However, there are significant misimpressions that have resulted from the recent articles. Not all the inaccuracies can be corrected without further revealing classified information. I have, however, declassified for release the attached details about the recent unauthorized disclosures in the hope that it will help dispel some of the myths and add necessary context to what has been published. James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence   Biographies: James R. Clapper Related Sites: Office of the Director of National Intelligence DNI Statement Facts on the Collection of Intelligence Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act   Defense Department News Through Facebook On American Forces Press Service's Facebook page, you can post comments and share news, photos and videos. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Forces-Press-Service/65137437532 or search for American Forces Press Service at Facebook.com. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time by clicking on your 'User Profile' page at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOD/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please e-mail support@govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ at http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx for up-to-date information. Get the help you, your family, and fellow servicemembers need, when you need it. Visit www.WarriorCare.mil to learn more. Check out the National Resource Directory at www.nationalresourcedirectory.org, a new web-based resource for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense