Clapper Establishes Review Group to Examine Intelligence Collection Effort

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 Establishes Review Group to Examine Intelligence Collection Effort 08/12/2013 04:49 PM CDT Clapper Establishes Review Group to Examine Intelligence Collection Effort By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2013 - The director of national intelligence today announced plans to establish a review group to look at the government's signals-intelligence collection and surveillance capabilities. James R. Clapper acted at the direction of President Barack Obama, who discussed the initiative during a White House news conference Aug. 9. "We're forming a high-level group of outside experts to review our entire intelligence and communications technologies," he said. New technologies give governments unprecedented capabilities to monitor communications, and there needs to be a discussion of those technologies, Obama said. He said the panel will "consider how we can maintain the trust of the people, how we can make sure that there absolutely is no abuse in terms of how these surveillance technologies are used, ask how surveillance impacts our foreign policy -- particularly in an age when more and more information is becoming public." Clapper's note today formalized the start of this initiative. "The review group will assess whether, in light of advancements in communications technologies, the United States employs its technical collection capabilities in a manner that optimally protects our national security and advances our foreign policy while appropriately accounting for other policy considerations, such as the risk of unauthorized disclosure and our need to maintain the public trust," Clapper wrote. Once established, the group will brief its interim findings to President Obama within 60 days of its formation and provide a final report with recommendations no later than Dec. 15, 2013.  Biographies: James R. Clapper Related Sites: Office of the Director of National Intelligence   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