Page 3 - aruba-today-20220212

A3
U.S. NEWS Saturday 12 February 2022

Senators: CIA has secret program that collects American data

By NOMAAN MERCHANT sued by an oversight panel
Associated Press known as the Privacy and
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Civil Liberties Oversight
CIA has a secret, undis- Board. According to the
closed data repository that document, a pop-up box
includes information col- warns CIA analysts using
lected about Americans, the program that seeking
two Democrats on the any information about U.S.
Senate Intelligence Com- citizens or others covered
mittee said. While neither by privacy laws requires
the agency nor lawmak- a foreign intelligence pur-
ers would disclose specifics pose.
about the data, the sena- “However, analysts are not
tors alleged the CIA had required to memorialize the
long hidden details about justification for their que-
the program from the pub- ries,” the board said.
lic and Congress. Additional documents
Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon released Thursday also
and Martin Heinrich of New revealed limited details
Mexico sent a letter to top about a program to col-
intelligence officials calling lect financial data against
for more details about the the Islamic State. That pro-
program to be declassified. This April 13, 2016, photo, shows the seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters gram also has incidentally
Large parts of the letter, in Langley, Va. snared some records held
which was sent in April 2021 Associated Press by Americans.
and declassified Thursday, Both Wyden and Heinrich
and documents released investigating Americans or program highlighted by ful collection, CIA may in- have long pushed for more
by the CIA were blacked U.S. businesses. But the spy the senators and another cidentally acquire informa- transparency from the in-
out. Wyden and Heinrich agencies’ sprawling collec- disclosed this week are tion about Americans who telligence agencies. Nearly
said the program oper- tion of foreign communica- “repositories of information are in contact with foreign a decade ago, a question
ated “outside the statutory tions often snares Ameri- about the activities of for- nationals,” the agency Wyden posed to the na-
framework that Congress cans’ messages and data eign governments and for- statement said. “When the tion’s spy chief presaged
and the public believe incidentally. eign nationals.” In a state- CIA acquires information critical revelations about
govern this collection.” Intelligence agencies are ment, the agency said the about Americans, it safe- the NSA’s mass-surveillance
There have long been con- required to take steps to programs were classified to guards that information programs.
cerns about what informa- protect U.S. information, stop adversaries from com- in accordance with pro- In 2013, Wyden asked then-
tion the intelligence com- including redacting the promising them. cedures approved by the Director of National Intel-
munity collects domestical- names of any Americans The agency also said it kept Attorney General, which ligence James Clapper if
ly, driven in part by previous from reports unless they are members of congressional restrict the CIA’s ability to the NSA collected “any
violations of Americans’ deemed relevant to an in- oversight committees “fully collect, retain, use, and dis- type of data at all on mil-
civil liberties. The CIA and vestigation. The process and currently informed of seminate the information.” lions or hundreds of millions
National Security Agency of removing redactions is its classified activities relat- The CIA released a series of Americans.” Clapper ini-
have a foreign mission and known as “unmasking.” ed to these two programs.” of redacted recommenda- tially responded, “No.” He
are generally barred from The CIA on Friday said the “In the course of any law- tions about the program is- later said, “Not wittingly.” q

Delay ahead for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5

By LAURAN NEERGAARD starting getting two shots Pfizer’s early data showed
and MATTHEW PERRONE before it’s clear if they’d two of the extra-low doses
Associated Press actually need a third. were safe for kids under 5
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. But Friday, the FDA reversed and strong enough to give
regulators on Friday put course and said it had be- good protection to babies
the brakes on their push come clear it needed to as young as 6 months. But
to speed Pfizer’s COVID-19 wait for data on how well once tots reached the
vaccine to children under that third shot works for this preschool age -- the 2- to
5, creating major uncer- age group. Pfizer said in a 4-year-olds -- two shots
tainty about how soon the statement that it expected didn’t rev up enough im-
shots could become avail- the data by early April. munity. And a study of a
able.The Food and Drug FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Pe- third dose isn’t finished
Administration had urged ter Marks said he hoped yet -- meaning the FDA
Pfizer and its partner BioN- parents would understand was considering whether
Tech to apply for authoriza- that the decision to delay to authorize two shots for
tion of extra-low doses of was part of the agency’s now with potentially a third A person is injected with her second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19
its vaccine for the young- careful review and high sci- cleared later, something vaccine at a Dallas County Health and Human Services
est children before studies entific standards. highly unusual. vaccination site in Dallas, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.
were even finished — citing “We take our responsi- Friday, the FDA didn’t say Associated Press
the toll the omicron variant bility for reviewing these exactly what new data formation regarding evalu- ment.
has taken on children. vaccines very seriously be- Pfizer was providing except ation of a third dose should The nation’s 18 million chil-
Next week, FDA advisers cause we’re parents as that it involved the critical be considered as part of dren under 5 are the only
were supposed to publicly well,” Marks told reporters issue of a third dose. our decision-making,” the age group not yet eligible
debate if youngsters should during a teleconference. “We believe additional in- agency said in a state- for vaccination.q