Went to check the mail this afternoon, and amid the fine assortment of advertisments was an ominous white envelope from the Department of Defense,
National Security Agency.
Contents on the flip. :D
It contained a single sheet of 20lb, Royal, 25% cotton letterhead paper from the National Security Agency's Central Security Service.
No, really.
National Security Agency
Central Security Service
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20750-6000
PA Case: nnnnn
20 December 2005
Nemo
Address, et cetera
Dear Nemo;
This responds to your 19 December 2005 Privacy Act (PA) request, which was received in this office on 19 December 2005, for a copy of all records this Agency maintains on you. Your request has been processed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the PA. A search of our most comprehensive filing systems which include applicant, personnel, security, and training was conducted but no records were located on you. In addition, there are no fees associated with the processing of your case since your request meets the requirements of the PA for which there are no fees.
For your information, NSA is authorized by law to collect only foreign intelligence information; therefore, we would not expect to find responsive records on U.S. citizens. Personnel management files, however, are maintained on NSA/CSS affiliates, e.g. personnel and security files. Our records reflect that you have never been affiliated with this Agenct; thus, no records were located.
Not exactly a surprise, even in these strange days. Still, the letter would make a nice conversation piece... if I had a coffee table. I've posted it here so interested parties can see what a response looks like, and just how very easy it is to get one.
Darn fast response, I might add. I emailed them a PGP-signed request on the 19th, and received a response - dated the 20th - on the 28th. So yay for the NSA, prompt and efficient defenders of other people's liberties. :)