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1 correction found
They also reserve the term “collecting” for the querying process
In U.S. intelligence/DoD rules, “collection” is defined as receiving/acquiring (and processing into intelligible form) information—not querying/searching an already-held database.
Full reasoning
The post claims the government (in this context, NSA/DoD intelligence components) uses “collecting” to mean querying databases.
However, publicly available U.S. government/IC-related materials define collection in the opposite direction: as receipt/acquisition of information.
1) DoD regulation defines “collected” as received (and processed), not queried
DoD 5240.1-R (the procedures governing DoD intelligence components that affect U.S. persons) states:
- “Information shall be considered as ‘collected’ only when it has been received for use…”
- “Data acquired by electronic means is ‘collected’ only when it has been processed into intelligible form.”
That definition is about receipt/acquisition/processing of information, not searching a database that already exists.
2) NSA-related legal standards report likewise ties “collection” to receipt/acceptance
A (publicly posted) report to Congress on legal standards for electronic surveillance explains that for NSA, DoDD 5240.1-R Procedure 2 defines collection to include “receipt or acceptance” of information (e.g., from a foreign government).
Again, this is describing receiving/accepting information—not querying.
Conclusion
Because these sources define “collection” as receiving/acquiring (and processing) information, the post’s specific claim that the term is reserved for querying is contradicted by the relevant published definitions and is therefore incorrect.
2 sources
- DoD 5240.1-R — Procedures Governing the Activities of DoD Intelligence Components That Affect United States Persons (Procedure 2, “Collection” definition)
“Collection. Information shall be considered as ‘collected’ only when it has been received for use by an employee of a DoD intelligence component… Data acquired by electronic means is ‘collected’ only when it has been processed into intelligible form.”
- NSA Report to Congress on Legal Standards for Electronic Surveillance (FAS posting; report transmitted to Congress, Feb. 2000)
Footnote 15: “For NSA, DoDD 5240.1-R, Procedure 2 defines collection to include receipt or acceptance by an intelligence community employee of information from a foreign government.”