Dutch secret service 'also has access to information from PRISM'
Here's an interesting thought (to me).  Supposedly there is a law that forbids NSA from using PRISM to directly spy on Americans.  Let's imagine, for a brief, laughable moment, that this law is followed.  It would be technically compliant with the law if the NSA could send a request to Dutch authorities, and ask that they send any information they have or can obtain on a US person.  The Dutch have access to this system, and would know what the NSA is getting at, so the Dutch would query the system and send the info back.  This could all be done via API in a matter of milliseconds.<p>The NSA could then tell their overseers that <i>they</i> have never used PRISM to spy on Americans, which would be technically true, while they would enjoy unfettered access to intelligence on US persons with absolutely no oversight or authorization from anyone.  This seems to be one of only a few logical explanations for giving other countries access to the system.