ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumObama · D

Presidential Memorandum

Reviewing Our Global Signals Intelligence Collection and Communications Technologies

President Obama directed the Director of National Intelligence to establish a Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies to assess whether U.S. signals intelligence collection optimally balances national security, foreign policy, and other considerations like public trust. The group must brief interim findings within 60 days and deliver a final report by December 15, 2013.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 49653

Impact dates

  1. Final report and recommendations to President through DNI

  2. Interim findings briefing to President through DNI

Key directives

  • Establish Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies
  • Assess whether technical collection capabilities optimally protect national security while accounting for unauthorized disclosure risks and public trust
  • Brief interim findings within 60 days of establishment
  • Provide final report and recommendations by December 15, 2013

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of Review Group directed

Near term (90d)

  • Interim findings briefing due within 60 days of establishment
  • Final report due December 15, 2013

Long term

  • Potential reforms to signals intelligence collection practices based on recommendations

Risks & tensions

  • Tension between security imperatives and privacy/civil liberties concerns implicit in 'public trust' and 'unauthorized disclosure' references
  • Compressed timeline (4 months) may limit depth of review for complex technical and legal issues
  • Vague mandate leaves scope of 'other policy considerations' uncertain
Presidential Memorandum: Reviewing Our Global Signals Intelligence Collection and Communications Technologies · Executive Orders