Ref. Article: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/07/the-details-about-the-cias-deal-with-amazon/374632/

I believe Amazon was used as a private contractor to run 'about' queries on the NSA database and store the metadata collected onto the CIA/Amazon cloud servers. This makes sense as to why Admiral Rogers (in addition to the FISA report) was concerned about private contractors making political queries in the NSA database. Additionally, the CIA (according to their website) is specifically prohibited from collecting foreign intelligence concerning the domestic activities of US citizens. How can the CIA go around this and minimize exposure? Simple, use Amazon servers to store AND COLLECT the data for you.

My opinion, the CIA (along with Brennan) made a STUPID move. I believe Amazon cloud servers currently store FVEY metadata for the CIA as well as data mined from the about 'queries' of the NSA servers. Amazon Web Services (AWS) was responsible for the advent of 'cloud computing' and AWS is mostly responsible for companies like Netflix, Pintrest, AirBnB, among many, many others to offload their servers. Importantly, AWS controls a huge chunk of the cloud-server market — about 40 percent in mid-2017, per Synergy Research. (By itself, AWS controls more of the cloud-computer market than its three closest rivals, IBM, Google, and Microsoft, combined).

• What happens with Amazon goes down?
• What happened recently?
• Data Scrubbed?
• What other companies go down when Amazon servers go down?

Here are the positions of the 'players' in 2014

• CIA Director: John Brennan (2013 appointed)
• Director of National Intelligence: James Clapper
• FBI Director: James Comey (2013 appointed)
• Attorney General: Eric Holder

According to the CIA website about data collection: By law, the CIA is specifically prohibited from collecting foreign intelligence concerning the domestic activities of US citizens. Its mission is to collect information related to foreign intelligence and foreign counterintelligence. By direction of the president in Executive Order 12333 of 1981 and in accordance with procedures approved by the Attorney General, the CIA is restricted in the collection of intelligence information directed against US citizens. Collection is allowed only for an authorized intelligence purpose; for example, if there is a reason to believe that an individual is involved in espionage or international terrorist activities. The CIA's procedures require senior approval for any such collection that is allowed, and, depending on the collection technique employed, the sanction of the Director of National Intelligence and Attorney General may be required. These restrictions on the CIA have been in effect since the 1970s.

Important Update: NSA does not audit the CIA/AWS cloud. Only CIA IT and AWS employees with security clearances can. Additionally, Amazon was being hit financially in 2014 with a rocky market... and all comes along a CIA contract. Interesting...

Thoughts?