Flashback: Former NSA director explains unmasking

<p>The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is the law that allows the federal intelligence community to spy on foreign actors. The masking process is a safeguard measure designed to protect Americans who are recorded in the incident.</p><p>When this happens, intelligence analysts are obliged to hide or “mask” the name of the American if their participation is incidental and no wrongdoing is suspected.</p><p>If a member of the intelligence community says that they need more information on the intelligence reports they are receiving about a foreign actor, they can request to unmask a person's identity.</p><p>During a hearing Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on June 7, 2017, then-National Security Agency director Michael Rogers explains the limited process of revealing the identity of Americans subject to incidental surveillance.</p>