F-2014-01815 INITIAL REQUEST

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
06408537
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
July 11, 2023
Document Release Date: 
November 21, 2022
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
F-2015-00885
Publication Date: 
June 14, 2014
File: 
Body: 
Approved for Release: 2022/10/03 C06408537 Date To From : Subject: Jun 14, 2014 19:28 GMT , 17036133007 Heather Akers-Healy, Mail fax@requests.muckrock.com Freedom of Information Request: CIA documents re Google Special June 14, 2014 Central Intelligence Agency Information and Privacy Coordinator Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505 To Whom /t May Concern: This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: Contracts, agreements, purchase orders, and any correspondence or comunications with Google Special Services, Inc. or Google Federal, including email. Their DUNS number is 965324705 and their CAGE code is 6MHC8. They are located at 1818 Library Street Ste. 400, Reston, Virginia, 20190. I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I am making this request in the public interest, and as a member of the news media. I have established a project at MuckRock looking into the activities of the NSA and other intelligence agencies. Despite the short time I have been making and publishing requests through MuckRock, this project has garnered international media attention and was written up in Forbes. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/runasandvik/2013/11/26/illuminating-the-united-states- billion-dollar-intelligence-budget-project-spylighter-documents-surveillance- technology-used-by-the-nsa/) The Forbes article was covered in several other media outlets, and even reported in Spanish. (http://www.desdeabajo.info/actualidad/internacional/item/23165-spylighter-documenta- la-compra-de-tecnolo0C3UDa-de-vigilancia-masiva-por-parte-de-la-nsa.html) I have an ongoing relationship with Rune Sandvik, a well-)mown journalist and technologist who wrote the article at Forbes. I have also written at other media outlets about documents received from previous FOIA requests (http://www.occupy.com/article/why-we-need-whistleblowers). All documents released to MuckRock are published on the MuckRock website. The documents are not merely posted, but analyzed by journalists at MuckRock and media outlets around the world. MuckRock has over 1,000 active users and tens of thousands of readers. An incomplete list of outlets reporting news broken at MuckRock can be found here: https://pinboard.in/umorisy/t:muckrock_press/ My first successful request to the NSA for contracts with Vupen was widely reported. There was significant interest in the fact that the NSA was purchasing exploits services from a foreign contractor. A few examples of press regardinTthat release are below: Threatpost: http://threatpost.com/nsa-bought-exploit-service-from-vupen-contract-shows Gawker: http://gawker.com/nsa-paid-french-hackers-for-software-exploits-1341604032 The Register: http://ww4.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/17/nsa2rupen/ Information Week: http://www.informationweek.com/security/government/nsa-contracted- with-zero-day-vendor-vupe/240161389 Computing: http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/2295155/nsa-bought-zero-day- vulnerabilities-from-security-company-vupen Slate:http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/09/17/nsa_paid_french_hacker_company vupen for software exploits. html _ _ _ Approved for Release: 2022/10/03 C06408537 Approved for Release: 2022/10/03 C06408537 RT: http://rt.comiusa/nsa-vupen-exploit-hack-978/ Mashable: http://mashable.com/2013/09/17/nsa-french-hacking-tools-vupen/ The Backer News: http://thehackernews.com/2013/09/nsa-bought-hacking-tools-from- vupen.html The Daily Dot: http://www.dailydot.com/politics/nsa-malware-vupen/ Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/netzpolitik/nsa-kauft-infos-ueber- sicherheitsluecken-von-vupen-a-922765.html The information sought does contribute to the public understanding and is in the public interest. With the publishing of the Snowden materials and the surrounding media coverage, the past few months have demonstrated a significant increase in the public's interest in the activities of the NSA, the CIA, and other intelligence agencies. It benefits the public to understand how our money is being spent, and the relationship of agencies with their private contractors. In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not. Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires. Sincerely, Heather Akers-Healy Filed via MuckRock.com E-mail (Preferred): 12154-98324197@requests_muckrock.com For mailed responses, please address (see note): MuckRock News DEPT MR 12154 PO Box 55819 Boston, MA 02205-5819 PLEASE NOTE the new address as well as the fact that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than MuckRock News) requests might be returned by the USPS as undeliverable. Approved for Release: 2022/10/03 C06408537