Assistant to the President: Update on Implementation of Signals Intelligence Reform and Issuance of PPD-28

On January 17, 2014, President Obama heading for a series of signals intelligence reforms designed to restore confidence every American that our nation's intelligence activities are carried out with suitable oversight and respect for civil liberties and privacy. That same day, he also signed Presidential Policy Directive-28, Signals Intelligence Activities (PPD-28), which reaffirms long-standing compilation principles, sets certain limitations on the use of signals intelligence collected in bulk, refines the process for collecting signals intelligence – including an annual Cabinet-level review of prioritization and an evaluation of risks and benefits – and establishes safeguard for personal information collected through signals intelligence. At the President's direction, future implementation of these reforms will be the subject of an annual report.