NSA Using vs Collecting

This report on the NSA use of facial recognition:

The U.S. National Security Agency complies with legal restrictions when it comes to using facial-recognition technology on citizens, according to the agency’s new director.

“We do not do this in some unilateral basis against U.S. citizens,” Admiral Michael S. Rogers said at a Bloomberg Government cybersecurity conference in Washington today. “We have very specific restrictions when it comes to U.S. persons.” 

I have a city phone book sitting on a shelf that has the collected names of all listed people in my town.  I would only use it if I wanted to get a specific person's telephone number.  Actually, I never use the phone book anymore.

Collecting is one thing.  Use is another.

The recent NSA story was about collecting zillions of face pictures.

The NSA response addresses use.  IAW the law, of course.

An expert lawyer might catch this distinction in court.

"Do you collect images by the boatload?"

"We comply with legal restrictions when it comes to using them"

Maybe I have been watching "The Good Wife" too much to expect this level of perception and calling "Objection".