You know they interpret this to be nuanced collection, don't you? They capture all the data and then when there is a lead, they inspect it and they consider it collection at that time. The bulk capturing of the data is to make nuanced collection available, otherwise the data might no longer exist.
The myth is that it has anything to do with terrorists, the definition they are using (and its hyper political, the president won't just say something is terrorism) pretty much excludes Americans. Now if they expanded it to include the Sandy Hook shooter, the Batman shooter, Fort Hood, etc... Then at the very least you could make a case that they are collecting the right data when they capture American data.
The myth is that it has anything to do with terrorists, the definition they are using (and its hyper political, the president won't just say something is terrorism) pretty much excludes Americans. Now if they expanded it to include the Sandy Hook shooter, the Batman shooter, Fort Hood, etc... Then at the very least you could make a case that they are collecting the right data when they capture American data.