In my experience, National Security tends to mean the security of (primarily) the US Gov and (secondarily) Gov contractors and major campaign donors. National Security applies to individuals when justification is needed to deploy systems that surveil Americans (not suspected of a crime).

> For a long time the U.S. military resisted the use of PALs. It feared the loss of its own independence, and it feared malfunction, which could put warheads out of action in a time of crisis.