[deelowe]

There's no proof to suggest they knew otherwise. Anything stated thus far is speculation. All that's been shown as "evidence" is a slide with company logos on it and some statements from the NSA which claims to collect "Facebook" data, which could really mean anything. Plus Google openly submitted a request to allow them to publicly disclose the number, type, and scope of NSLs it receives. I have more reason to doubt the Govt than these other companies.

Also, given the name "PRISM," isn't it pretty obvious how this program worked? Think about it... What does a prism do?

Meanwhile, Verizon and ATT have been completely silent and government representatives are making up new definitions for the term perjury.

[uvdiv]

Also, given the name "PRISM," isn't it pretty obvious how this program worked? Think about it... What does a prism do?

It's obvious a spy agency isn't trying to communicate how their program works to everyone who stumbles across their codename.

[wavefunction]

They always seem to love clever acronyms that are tangentially related to whatever it deals with, like USAPATRIOT Act is actually about how to not be a good US patriot.

[irishcoffee]

Generally (pretty much always) the name of a government program is an acronym. I wouldn't try and draw much meaning from it.