I didn't know about the 215 collection until the public disclosure.
I think there's a difference between hearing some unsubstantiated claims from a disgruntled employee (Binney) versus getting a legitimate-looking document that the government made no effort to deny. Once that failed to happen, we knew it was real.
Soon after, government officials acknowledged the mass collection renewal under ยง215, demonstrating the document's authenticity. So I dispute that it was something people knew about prior to the disclosure.
I think there's a difference between hearing some unsubstantiated claims from a disgruntled employee (Binney) versus getting a legitimate-looking document that the government made no effort to deny. Once that failed to happen, we knew it was real.
Soon after, government officials acknowledged the mass collection renewal under ยง215, demonstrating the document's authenticity. So I dispute that it was something people knew about prior to the disclosure.