NSA analysis of post-Snowden spread of strong encryption
| Tracking # |
84695 |
| Submitted | April 25, 2016 |
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Communications
From: Patrick Howell O'Neill
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
NSA reports and memos analyzing the effects of the Edward Snowden leaks on the spread of commercially available encryption. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said on April 25 (http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-cyber-surveillance-idUSL2N17S0Z6) that the NSA had conducted such an analysis.
I request a fee waiver as a member of the news media. These records will be used to produce news reporting that is vital to informing readers about a matter of broad public interest. Selected examples of my work can be found here: http://muckrack.com/ericgeller/portfolio and my complete list of stories for my news organization can be found here: http://www.dailydot.com/authors/eric-geller/.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Eric Geller
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 25, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 25, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: foiarsc, foiarsc
Good afternoon,
We are in receipt of a follow-up faxes regarding two requests.
MR user ID - 25391-65640285 (Geller): "browser vulnerability used by the FBI in the investigation of the child pornography site Playpen."
MR User ID - 24505-44533385 (Mitch): "the effects of the Edward Snowden leaks on the spread of commercially available encryption."
Although your fax indicates your original request may have been sent on 25-26 April 2016, we have no record of receiving this request prior to 13 June 2016. We will use your fax to initiate a new request with a receipt date of 13 June 2016. An acknowledgement letter will be sent via USPS mail.
For future reference please ensure that your service has the following instructions regarding submitting new FOIA requests. NEW Requests submitted via any other method are not accepted by this Agency.
Submitting a FOIA Request - There are three convenient ways to submit a request (no special forms are required):
By postal service or other commercial delivery to:
National Security Agency
Attn: FOIA/PA Office (DJ4)
9800 Savage Road, Suite 6248
Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6248
By facsimile to 443-479-3612
FOIA requests submitted by facsimile are limited to 20 pages and should be marked to the attention of the PA/FOIA Office.
By utilizing the format provided on our website here: https://www.nsa.gov and then navigating to the Resources For -> Everyone pages.
Regards,
Cindy B
NSA/CSS FOIA Requester Service Center
(301)688-6527
From: MuckRock
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for your letter. However, it would be greatly appreciated if the following errors were to be corrected.
• This particular communication is being sent from the email address
requests@muckrock.com. It would be greatly appreciated if communications related to this particular would be sent to that email address.
• This particular request (requests@muckrock.com) was submitted by Eric Geller. The most recent letter from your office mis-assigned the requester.
• This particular request is related to "NSA reports and memos analyzing the effects of the Edward Snowden leaks on the spread of commercially available encryption. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said on April 25 (http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-cyber-surveillance-idUSL2N17S0Z6) that the NSA had conducted such an analysis."
• This request was submitted to the fax number still listed on your website (please see attached screenshot).
• This request was submitted on April 25, 2016. Please see the attached initial email.
Thank you for amending your records appropriately.
From: MuckRock
To Whom It May Concern:
Please also provide the appropriate tracking number and an estimated date of completion for this request.
Please also clarify whether the fax number provided is the number associated with this agency's Privacy Act office (https://www.nsa.gov/resources/everyone/foia/submit-privacy-act-request/) and whether future Freedom of Information Act requests should be sent to the same number.
Thank you.
From: foiarsc, foiarsc
To whom it may concern:
For the record and in answer to your questions/statements:
- Your request sent via 25391-65640285 was not related to " Edward Snowden leaks on the spread of commercially available encryption." The request for that topic was submitted by 25405-44533385 and was signed by Derek Mitch (received 13 Jun, assigned 84696); we have no record of receiving any requests for that topic from Eric Geller using the MR# from the attachment you provided (Muckrock_Mail...). Our response to Mr. Mitch's request (25405-44533385/ 84696) will be handled under separate cover, via USPS mail.
- Your request sent via 25391-65640285 was assigned Case # 84695; the estimated completion date for this request is less than 30 days. That request 84695 sought information on "browser vulnerability used by the FBI in the investigation of the child pornography site Playpen" and was signed by Eric Geller. We have not provided any response via USPS letter regarding that request 84695. However, there was a similar request submitted via MuckRock by Derek Mitch, for which we've already responded circa April 2016.
- The date of your fax was 26 April 2016, which was not received in by the case initiation staff until 13 Jun 2016.
- The fax number for sending NEW requests or checking on existing request is 443-479-3612, as noted on our website. This is a dedicated fax number that goes directly to the location where cases are initiated or updated for status checks.
- The fax number that your service has been using in recent months (301-688-4762) is for correspondence regarding this Agency's administration of the FOIA. That fax number is not a method to send new requests or status checks.
- The agency established methods for submitting a FOIA are found here: https://www.nsa.gov/resources/everyone/foia/submit-foia-request/ A FOIA request seeks Agency records on any number of topics that pertain to NSA activities.
- The agency established methods for submitting a PRIVACY ACT request are found here: https://www.nsa.gov/resources/everyone/foia/submit-privacy-act-request/ A Privacy Act request only pertains to those records that are on AN INDIVIDUAL and are retrievable by name or personal identifier; e.g. former/current employees, applicants, contractors etc.
I will send an email to the general MuckRock address info@muckrock.com in order to ensure their information is current and to ensure that request are submitted and initiated to the correct location/team and in the most efficient manner possible.
Regards,
Cindy B
NSA/CSS FOIA Requester Service Center
(301)688-6527
From: National Security Agency
The request has been rejected, with the agency stating that the information or document(s) requested are exempt from disclosure.
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