The latest leak about the PRISM surveillance program exposed that the NSA is authorized to retain users’ personal data for extended periods of time, and share that information with other government agencies. SiliconAngle contributing editor John Casaretto discussed the revelation in recent Q&A session with NewsDesk host Kristin Feledy.

Earlier this week, the Guardian published the classified policies which govern the NSA’s domestic data gathering operation. Casaretto highlights that the document was approved by a secret court and Attorney General Eric Holder in 2009.

Kristin Feledy asks Casaretto about the content of the document. He replies, “That’s where it gets pretty interesting. The judges signed off on a number of broad orders that allow the NSA to make use of information that has been inadvertently collected from domestic communications [networks] without a warrant. It basically allows them to utilize that information…the information can be collected, retained and used.”

Casaretto goes on to say that there are a number of loopholes in the documents. First, the procedure for determining the location of a target and whether he or she is a U.S. citizen is poorly defined. Second, there are very few checks and balances on data analysts. And finally, the NSA can retain encrypted data “pretty much indefinitely” on the grounds that it might contain information relevant to national security interests. He adds that while the NSA can only keep unencrypted data for a period of five years, it is not obliged to delete it. It is only required to hand that information over to another agency.

Casaretto says this leak has raised concerns over privacy and governmental abuse of power. He concludes the interview by addressing the Obama administration’s response to the PRISM scandal.

Check out the video below for the full analysis.