# Data Collection Can Be Effective and Legal

The notion that collecting vast amounts of data is necessary to combat terrorism has become a cornerstone of national security discourse. However, this approach often ignores the fundamental principles of privacy and the Fourth Amendment. In reality, advanced technology can be employed to collect and process data in a way that protects individual rights while enhancing security.

## The Myth of an End-Run on the Constitution

Those who claim that collecting vast amounts of data is necessary to thwart terrorism have been far from candid. Since Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013, it has become clear that top officials have prioritized maintaining their own power and influence over adhering to constitutional principles.

The so-called "choice" between security and privacy has been presented as an Either-Or conundrum. However, this is a false choice. What is necessary is to adopt a Both-And approach, utilizing advanced technology in conjunction with sound policy to strike a balance between security and individual rights.

## The Available Technology

Sophisticated collection and processing technologies have been available for decades, enabling highly efficient and discriminating data collection. These methods can pinpoint and thwart corruption within intelligence agencies, military units, and civilian organizations.

## A New Paradigm

To achieve this new paradigm, a centralized technical group or organization must be established to continuously monitor and validate compliance with the Constitution and U.S. law. This group would require high-level access to all agencies to ensure compliance behind classified doors.

Furthermore, government financial and operational transactions should be made open to public review as a means of ensuring transparency and accountability.

## A Case Study: The Behavior of Senior Officials

A brief portrayal of one such senior official highlights the apparent motivation behind their actions. By shedding light on this behavior, we hope to shed some light on the motivations of those in positions of power.

## Automated Analysis and Data Pinpointing

Advanced technologies can be used to analyze attributes and transactional relationships among individuals. This can help identify activity of interest and equate it to profiles of interest, with inference to intentions and capabilities.

## Implementation Challenges

Assigning trustworthy people with deep knowledge of relevant activities in government agencies is a monumental task. Sweeping changes are required at all levels of management to implement this approach effectively.

## The Importance of Transparency and Oversight

To prevent the misuse of data collection technologies, it is essential to create a separate, independent group that can inspect government agency activities at all classification levels. This group should have the authority to terminate special access programs that are illegal but hidden.

## Techniques for Managing Mass Surveillance Data

The following techniques can be employed by the Intelligence Community and broader government to manage mass surveillance data in a way that protects privacy while maximizing the probability of threat detection:

### Focused Professional Study

A focused professional study based on attributes and transactions forming the basis of probable cause can help purge current databases of irrelevant data and enhance smart data collection.

### Created, Tested, Proven In-House Techniques

Techniques created, tested, and proven in-house have been demonstrated to be effective in reconstructing files at fiber-optic rates in the worldwide Internet.

### Case Study: The Development and Downfall of NSA's System

In 1998, a team at the SIGINT Automation Research Center (SARC) developed a system that could reconstruct files at fiber-optic rates. However, this approach was abandoned due to financial considerations, and the system was replaced with less efficient but more expensive options.

### The Consequences of Prioritizing Profit Over Principle

The prioritization of profit over principle has led to numerous instances of corruption, deception, and abuse within government agencies. This includes the misleading statements made by former NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander regarding the effectiveness of bulk phone records collection.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, advanced technology can be employed to collect and process data in a way that protects individual rights while enhancing security. It is essential to adopt a Both-And approach, utilizing sound policy in conjunction with sophisticated technologies to strike a balance between security and privacy.

By prioritizing transparency, oversight, and accountability, we can ensure that government agencies operate within the bounds of the law and respect the fundamental principles of the Fourth Amendment.