2 chapters across the catalog
The hearing addressed "upstream collection," where data is tapped directly from internet and phone cables. "Tasking" refers to the specific request to collect data from a selector, while "directives" are the legal orders sent to service providers like Google and Yahoo to compel their cooperation.
Upstream Collection and Internet Backbone Tapping
Senator Dianne Feinstein admits to the existence of "Upstream Collection," which involves tapping directly into domestic telecommunication lines and the internet backbone. She describes a 2011 compliance incident where the NSA inadvertently bundled and acquired domestic emails. The hosts mock her technical explanation of "bundled" emails and her use of the term "internet background."
