PRISM is a program from the Special Source Operations ( SSO ) division of the NSA , which in the tradition of NSA 's intelligence alliances , cooperates with as many as 100 trusted U.S. companies since the 1970s . A prior program , the Terrorist Surveillance Program , was implemented in the wake of the September 11 attacks under the George W. Bush Administration but was widely criticized and challenged as illegal , because it did not include warrants obtained from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court . PRISM was authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
PRISM (surveillance program)