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After LinkedIn Clues, FOIA Nets New Details On NSA's ANCHORY Program

Posted by samzenpus on from the taking-a-good-look dept.

v3rgEz writes "After the ACLU's Christopher Soghoian highlighted NSA programs listed on LinkedIn, Jason Gulledge filed a request for details about the program — and turned up lucky. The NSA released 7 pages of database descriptions of its ANCHORY program, an open-source intelligence data gathering effort. The NSA's FOIA office said it would pony up more, but only if Gulledge could prove he was requesting the documents as part of a news gathering effort or if he would agree to pay associated fees."

2 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Fees and "news" by Typical+Slashdotter · · Score: 5, Informative

    Complying with FOIA requests can be expensive, especially for an organization like the NSA which will have to conduct a thorough review to make sure nothing's classified. The FOIA permits agencies to charge fees to cover these expenses (see foia.gov's description of costs). When disclosure of the information is "in the public" interest, the agency can waive these fees.

  2. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "or if he would agree to pay associated fees."

    FOIA does allow for this - it's not carte blanche to bankrupt the government with stupid requests for metric tons of paper. FOIA has always allowed for this - they will often waive the fees for 'news stories,' but will charge fees associated with the processing of the requests for private requests.