Details Revealed On Old NSA Intelligence Database: ANCHORY

from the from-way-back-when dept

Fri, Jul 26th 2013 6:37pm — Mike Masnick

You may remember that, back in June, we pointed out that if you plugged in a few of the "code names" for various NSA programs (as revealed by Ed Snowden's leaks), you could find a few resumes of NSA employees, listing out other such code names. Jason Gulledge apparently saw that post, and used the list of code names that we posted to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on NSA documents concerning those programs. Amazingly, they actually sent back some info -- though, just about the very first program, ANCHORY, and the info sent is from 1993 (and some from 2000), describing the text search system that the government has to search through various intelligence reports. From 1993, long before "search engines" were a thing:

ANCHORY is a system that provides timely retrieval of textual data by keyword and other relevant information on a 24-hour per day, 7 day per week basis. [REDACTED] is the ANCHORY hardware platform and BRS/Search, a commercial software product, is the engine behind ANCHORY text retrieval and database management functions.

[....] ANCHORY contains three years of full text reports written by NSA, CIA, DIA, State and Foreign Broadcast Information System, as well as Reuters News Service, Cryptologic Intelligence Reports and precis of hard copy reports.

The documents are interesting, mainly for the historical interest aspect. Though, at the same time, it does suggest that the NSA is (once again) completely full of crap when it claims that it doesn't have the technology to search its own emails. If it had text search twenty years ago for all reports, it has the capability to do email search today (not that this is a surprise).

Unfortunately, the FOIA person at the NSA rejected Gulledge's request to waive the FOIA fees, which it will do for media operations when there is a strong public interest basis for the request. Muckrock, the FOIA service Gulledge is using (and which, of course, we've used many times as well) is now appealing that decision. However, because of that, the NSA has not looked into whether it can send the documents on any of the other code named programs listed.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: anchory, code names, foia, nsa, search

8 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 26 Jul 2013 @ 7:10pm

It is a worrying trend that PRISM has so far-reaching cooperation with private actors. This historic document suggest entanglement between public and private operations is going back decades. The problem here is of course industrial espionage: If NSA demands VIP-access it can easily give non-financial compensation. In this case the question is "what does Reuters want" and can NSA provide it? I would think that there is always a good deal in supplying the right information about enemies and friends and the rest is of course state secrets...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

out_of_the_blue, 26 Jul 2013 @ 7:35pm

WOW! We're just a few FOIAs away from shutting down NSA!
I got nothin' appropriate for the outline of a 20 year old database except to trot out my latest tagline:

When you think surveillance, think Google!

And to announce the revival of classics (you think I'd delete this comedy gold?):

Mere engineers designed the Internet: Mike "Streisand Effect" Masnick fulfilled its promise!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
When the history of teh internets is written -- as it already is on Wikipedia by either Mike "Streisand Effect" Masnick or a minion -- then HIS name will be in blue!

And that may have to hold ya till Monday. Sheesh, what a dull week here!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
McCrea (profile), 26 Jul 2013 @ 7:36pm

Something smells fishy...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Pixelation, 26 Jul 2013 @ 7:44pm

Re:
"Something smells fishy..."

Dude, you're sniffing the wrong crotch.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
McCrea (profile), 27 Jul 2013 @ 7:40am

Re: Re:
Anchovy. *shrug*
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TruthandFreedom, 27 Jul 2013 @ 8:03am

Gold Lining for those who vote not to pass Amash Legislation
Politicians who voted not to pass the Amash legislation to defund NSA program for spying on Americans were given double the money of those who voted for it by the Defense Industry! Proof that those politicians were paid by a corrupt system to strip away American Citizens Fourth Amendment rights! These politicians chose money over the people they were suppose to represent!

http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/740561/pages/amash-amendment-vote-maplight-p1-no rmal.gif

http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/740561/pages/amash-amendment-vote-maplight-p2-norm al.gif

etc..... A mere coincidence? Vote these Communists out of office and take back your constitutional rights!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TruthandFreedom, 27 Jul 2013 @ 8:14am

Re: Gold Lining for those who vote not to pass Amash Legislation
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/07/money-nsa-vote/

It seems the other links didn't work. The above http address will show you the truth about those voting to violate your fourth amendment rights! It's nice to know which politicians believe are rights can be taken away as long as they are paid enough money!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 27 Jul 2013 @ 2:49pm

Re: Gold Lining for those who vote not to pass Amash Legislation
The basis of a free economy is the ability to buy things. Since politicians are getting bought here, I highly doubt they want away with the capitalistic system, thus the throwback to Mccarthyism is a bit out of place!
[ link to this | view in thread ]