PRISM is a former classified surveillance program that was operated by the United States National Security Agency (NSA). The program was revealed to the public in 2013 by Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor.
According to reports and documents leaked by Snowden, PRISM was a system that allowed the NSA to collect and analyze electronic communications, including emails, chat messages, and other online activity, from a number of major Internet companies, including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook. The program was authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and was reportedly used to target the communications of foreign nationals for the purposes of national security.
PRISM generated controversy and concern about the extent of government surveillance and the potential for abuse of power. It also raised questions about the role of Internet companies in cooperating with government surveillance programs. In the aftermath of the PRISM disclosures, some companies, including Google and Microsoft, have implemented stronger encryption measures and have taken steps to protect the privacy of their users.
The specific apps and services that were affected by PRISM are not publicly known, as the program was classified and the details have not been fully disclosed. However, it has been reported that PRISM targeted the communications of users of a number of major Internet companies, including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook. These companies have denied any wrongdoing or involvement in the program and have stated that they only provided access to user data as required by law.
The specific details of how PRISM worked are not publicly known, as the program was classified and the details have not been fully disclosed. However, it is believed that the program involved the NSA obtaining direct access to the servers of Internet companies, such as Google and Facebook, and using automated systems to collect and analyze the communications of targeted users.