There is certainly a lot of FUD floating around. This seems to be a tactic to switch the topic off the conversation of PRISM and warrant-less data collection in general. Seriously, read the PsyOps handbook (https://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-05-30.pdf). They are now using these same tactics to essentially go to war against the people who want to stop them (i.e. the civil libertarians). Think that would be illegal? Nope, the law stopping it was repealed: http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/07/12/us_backs_.... The spring 2013 issue of 2600 had a great article on extra-judicial actions that state actors take against dissidents (US and other regimes). I highly recommend reading it.