The National Security Agency has been all over the news for the last few years, and not in a good way. Former National Security contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified documents to multiple media outlets on such a scale that the world took notice. The day the world learned about the Prism program, among others, was June 5, 2013, when Ed Snowden provided details of the programs to the Guardian and the Washington Post. Ed Snowden revealed those secrets as a member of the NSA, but fled the country before the leaks to avoid being imprisoned by the authorities. Soon after the leaks, Ed Snowden became famous for keeping 24-hour vigil on which country would grant him asylum. He currently resides in a Moscow airport awaiting appeal (Staff, 2013). He stated that he “did not want to live in a society like this”, that is why he decided to reveal the secret of the state for all the world to see (Staff, 2013). Now that you know the man behind the leaks, it's time you found out about the program, the scope and impact it really had. To understand the Prism program you must understand the post-9/11 world we live in and how transfixed the attacks left the intelligence community. September 11, 2001 is one of the most important dates in American history because nothing has been the same since then. The attacks have made Americans think: Are we really safe at home? The Bush administration declared the 9/11 attacks a declaration of war, and from that day on, the intelligence community was given every possible tool to counter another 9/11 attack. Immediately after 9/11, the Patriot Act was passed, one of, if not the most controversial laws of recent times. After the Patriot Act there was the Protect America...... at the center of the newspaper ...... on http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57588253-83/what-is-the -nsas- prism-program-faq/Guardian, T. (2013, November 1). Prism Nsa program slides. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/nov/01/prism-slides-nsa-documentLee, T. (2013, June 12). Here's everything we know about the prism to date. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/12/heres-everything-we-know-about-prism-to-date/Lejacq, Y. (2013, July 31) . How the NSA xkeyscore program works. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/how-nsas-xkeyscore-program-works-f6C10812168Of Justice, D. (n.d.). What is the Protect America Act?. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/Staff, V. (2013, July 17). Everything you need to know about the prism. Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/17/4517480/nsa-spying-prism-surveillance-cheat-sheet