The National Security Agency has obtained direct access to the systems of Apple, Google, Facebook, and other US Internet giants, according to "The Guardian" (http://tinyurl.com/m9hw4dv). The newspaper says it has obtained a NSA secret document that verifies this.

The NSA access is part of a previously undisclosed program called PRISM, which allows officials to collect material including search history, the content of emails, file transfers and live chats, the document says. "The Guardian: says it has verified the authenticity of the document, a 41-slide PowerPoint presentation, "which was apparently used to train intelligence operatives on the capabilities of the program."

The document claims "collection directly from the servers" of major US service providers. Although the presentation claims the program is run with the assistance of the companies, all those who responded to a "Guardian" request for comment denied knowledge of any such program.