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From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/us-intelligence-mining-data-from-nine-us-internet-companies-in-broad-secret-program/2013/06/06/3a0c0da8-cebf-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_print.html
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uponit7771
(93,532 posts)...phone calls of foreigners?!
Real time capture of email is supposed to be different than non real time!?!!?!
Really!? is that the news here?!
villager
(26,001 posts)....to start with....
B2G
(9,766 posts)
uponit7771
(93,532 posts)
KoKo
(84,711 posts)so bold to say NSA was around then? Perhaps you meant another agency...and if you could give a link it would be helpful about the 100 years.
Seriously...please edit your post...because it didn't come off well. We've all had some posts that jumped out before we took time to think...
WillyT
(72,631 posts)who risked his livelihood to get this info out.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)There seems to be a lot of Career Government folks risking their livelihoods to get info out to ask. And, some of it, after examination, had a kennel of truth to their career risking disclosures, too.
But not before the chorus of “Democrats/Progressives/Liberals” serenaded us with a rousing rendition of “I’ll never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote Democratic again!”
sheshe2
(97,622 posts)It was updated at 5:14 tonight. I thought you might find it interesting.
The Washington Post Has Now Hedged Its Stunning Claim About Google, Facebook, Etc, Giving The Government Direct Access To Their Servers
Henry Blodget | Jun. 7, 2013, 5:14 PM | 7,400 | 31
The government agencies, the Post said, were "tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U.S. Internet companies, extracting audio, video, photographs, e-mails, documents and connection logs that enable analysts to track a person’s movements and contacts over time."
This surveillance program, the Post reported, had been "knowingly" facilitated by the tech companies, which had allowed the government to tap directly into their central servers.
The Post story described a "career intelligence officer" as being so horrified by the power and privacy intrusion of this surveillance system that the officer was helping to leak the news to expose it.
"They quite literally can watch your ideas form as you type,” the officer reportedly told the Post.
SNIP
The story also led to immediate, explicit denials from the technology companies. Google, Facebook, and Yahoo all said that the government did not have "direct access" to any servers. Apple said it had never even heard of the program it was supposedly partnering with.
So The Post's claim that the companies had voluntarily given the government direct, open, un-monitored access to their servers quickly seemed suspect.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/washington-post-updates-spying-story-2013-6#ixzz2VaQQocuX
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/washington-post-updates-spying-story-2013-6#ixzz2VaPccCBy
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)at least...
So who created this new calendar?
and that is just for starters.
By the way, the rise of the National Security State is worrisome, but the last ten years are breathtaking. Just because your guy is in the WH does not make it right
kenny blankenship
(15,689 posts)You may call it January 20, 2009, but we know it to be the Year Zero.
rug
(82,333 posts)Granted, Morse Code allowed a massive intrusion on privacy.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)
uponit7771
(93,532 posts)rug
(82,333 posts)Phlem
(6,323 posts)yet everybody gets walk around here spewing out like air. What's up with that!
Hows that for the B in apt 23?
-p
bvar22
(39,909 posts)What could be more appropriate?
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)That there was domestic spying West and Gordon were doing in The Wild Wild West. And how they picked on that poor guy in the wheel chair was not to be admired!
Warpy
(114,615 posts)What we don't agree with is that it all started with that black guy in the White House.
Most of us have been alive longer without falling off any turnip trucks and have known about this shit since the 60s.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)But he certainly could do something about it.
Obama portrayed the programs as a trade-off between security and civil liberties. "I think it's important to recognize that you can't have 100 percent security, and also then have 100 percent privacy and zero inconvenience. We're going to have to make some choices as a society," he said.
He also expressed his displeasure that the domestic spying programs' existence was leaked to the press. "I don't welcome leaks," he said. "There's a reason these programs are classified."
The president's full-throated defense of the programs, albeit with the qualification that he welcomes debate, is unlikely to quell the outrage over the revelations. Obama ran as an antidote to Bush's policies in 2008, but the reports reveal that he has continued many of them, leading to concerns over the reach of the national security state.
Obama went on to defend those who operated the programs as "professionals." "In the abstract, you can complain about 'Big Brother' and how this is a potential program run amok. But when you actually look at the details, then I think we've struck the right balance," he said.
From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/obama-nsa_n_3403389.html
Warpy
(114,615 posts)The NSA is an entrenched bureaucracy stuffed to the rafters with Republican appointees. They've done this shit to us for decades and they're not likely to stop just because a president or anyone else, including the Supreme Court, tells them to.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)And who's gonna make thay announcement.
That's gonna be one powerful press conference.
Warpy
(114,615 posts)Hell no. They'll just do what they've been doing for the last 50 years, talk about democracy and patriotism and Mom's apple pie in the secure knowledge that the majority will chow down on all the bullshit they can serve up.
Th1onein
(8,514 posts)And, now? It's gotten worse.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)So...it means that no one can do anything about anything...because "it's the Republicans forever. More and Better Democrats or whatever...seems to be the solution.
But, there is no help from all the donations or whatever the momentum he had..to get those "more and better Democrats." So...what's next?
Th1onein
(8,514 posts)Let's put our heads together and do something, ourselves.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)He addressed it like an adult, operating in a democracy where policy directions are discussed, then Congress acts?
I thought that's what happens in a democracy ... Imagine that?
BlueCheese
(2,522 posts)
boilerbabe
(2,214 posts)feel a bit racist . intimidation to quit criticizing. it's low.
kelly1mm
(5,756 posts)
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)#3. Close your Google account. #4. Don't yahoo. #5. Knife the Mac.
If you can't or won't do ALL of those things, then do the first two. S'easy.
warrior1
(12,325 posts)pay with cash. No more atm
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)whistler162
(11,155 posts)don't get a customer loyalty card. Only pay in coins, bills have serial numbers and can be tracked.
Also either don't have children or keep them locked up so they don't go to a doctor or school.
Baitball Blogger
(52,344 posts)Here's the big secret you'll find on my computer: Researching this city's history I've learned that our local government tapped people in this community to bring them into their fold and win their support. They in turn took leadership roles in our community where they provided select information to the homeowners in order to get them to accept decisions that were in line with the City's agenda. And by "City agenda," I mean the agenda that was desired by elected officials.
When you add fraud, conspiracy and payola to the formula, doesn't that qualify as racketeering? Now that you know, do something about it.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)but, either someone got rid of RICO...or it was deemed so dangerous that it doesn't exist in an usable form as a mechanism for Organized Activities which show Criminal Intent by a Uniformed Group of Individuals in a Conspiracy.
Remember the word "Conspiracy" is now banned from discussion all over the web unless one follow Alex Jones or Rand or Ron Paul..or Aliens and Contrails.
I have no idea...but, I've seen much STUFF in the past 20 or so years that could be RICO..but RICO doesn't exists. We are told that it can't be used.
Baitball Blogger
(52,344 posts)that there was a conspiracy.
There was a lawsuit involved and things were not looking good for the city attorney when the federal judge was ready to rule in favor of the plaintiff because he could prove the City had entered into "contracts" and made promises to him. But, instead of going down alone, the city attorney gave the litigators a "frank discussion," that confirmed that the elected officials were behind a conspiracy to deprive the developer of his vested rights. I'm guessing that "frank discussion" was scorched earth.
The whole thing was settled for two million dollars, and that was BEFORE the developer had the city attorney's testimony.
The unfortunate thing was that the confidentiality clause in the settlement agreement created an entire cottage industry of "ambassadors" who spread misinformation in the community. I've been trying to set the record straight ever since.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)There are REAL conspiracies going on...but the Meme is that such things can't exist.
Having some experience with how local Govt's and even our Town/City Councils work these days of Corporate Influence...I understand exactly what you are saying..because it happens. For those of us DU'ers who've gotten involved back during the Dean days...it was an "eye opener" and not pleasant...and it's gotten worse with the ALEC and Koch influence along with local and national Chamber of Commerce. Most of us didn't know about that back in the early 2000's when we got involved. That corporate money has bought alot of people off to go out and "spread their message." Given the hard economic times there are folks who need that money and are fine with spreading the Corporate Message to folks in their communities.
Credit to you for seeing it and trying to do something. We do our best...it's a slog...but, people shouldn't give up. So much is being exposed because things have gotten so out of sync between the "people, voters" and the Corporate Influence and stretched Local Government Resources and finding folks who can stand up against this corruption without giving up and succumbing to the corruption themselves is a daunting task.
But, somebody's gotta do it...and if folks with a moral compass get discouraged and give up...then they have WON.
Baitball Blogger
(52,344 posts)That's all I can hope for. I would not be surprised if lawyers have warned members in this community to avoid me. I know it came as a surprise to me when someone who moved into my community recently asked me if I knew one of the officers of the board. I didn't know them because I've kept to myself since I don't know who I can trust. But his response threw me. When I said I keep to myself, his response was, "That's good."
jazzimov
(1,456 posts)Google NEWS for RICO and you'll see several cases being prosecuted right now.
Baitball Blogger
(52,344 posts)Anyone who know of an agency that is interested in investigating these abuses, let me know. The FBI political corruption unit and the State Attorney's office are a bust. I'm hoping for a newspaper outlet that might want to print a rather long article.
agent46
(1,262 posts)keep insisting they don't give the government "direct" access to their servers. Sounds like weasely legal tap dancing. What kind of access are they giving if it's not technically "direct" access?
WillyT
(72,631 posts)bunnies
(15,859 posts)
jeff47
(26,549 posts)
ProSense
(116,464 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)The key to any successful hoax is to weave at least a few truths into a story that is shocking but (just barely) credible. Late Thursday night, journalist Matthew Keys tracked down two military job listings that identify PRISM as a “collection management system” and a required job skill for “intelligence officer” positions (the same title the Post story uses to describe its anonymous source). Indeed, in an updated version of its story, The Post began to walk back its claims by citing a second classified report that identified PRISM as a program to “allow ‘collection managers [to send] content tasking instructions directly to equipment installed at company-controlled locations,’ rather than directly to company servers.”
If PRISM appears in publicly accessible job postings, it’s likely to be a less important program than the articles lead us to believe. And while PRISM-derived intelligence probably was cited in over 2,400 classified intelligence reports in 2012 (including almost 1,500 delivered to the president), it is appearing less and less likely that PRISM rises to the level of the all-encompassing vacuum cleaner of the Internet that the initial reports indicated.
Why someone would provide a false or partially-true briefing and play up its importance as “a gross intrusion on privacy,” as characterized by the Post’s anonymous source, is an open question. In an environment of shrinking defense and intelligence budgets, battles for scarce resources are often fought using strategic leaks or disinformation. Or, as Clapper claims, the materials provided to the newspapers may simply be inaccurate, a frequent occurrence in government training materials that pass through numerous offices before being approved.
If everything attributed to PRISM proves to be true, there will no doubt be a serious and ongoing national debate regarding where to draw the line between civil liberties and national security. But we shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss the government’s claims that all is not as it might appear. When dealing with leaks and the murky world of top secret intelligence programs, it is best to be mindful of Hanlon’s Razor: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/is-the-nsa-prism-spying-program-a-hoax-2013-6#ixzz2Va3PRVZR
ProSense
(116,464 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022974284
RVN VET
(492 posts)If you shut up when Bush-Cheney-Poindexter were doing it, you gotta shut up now.
If you were all righteous indignation and oh the horror when Bush-Cheney-Poindexter were doing it, you gotta speak up now.
Me? I saw Poindexter's sickening "Total Information Awareness" program as a horrible idea, destructive of the very nature of our rights as free citizens of a free nation.
When Poindexter (what a name!) was publicly called off and the program was publicly "shut down," I felt fairly certain that the public mea culpas by the Bushies were all a formality and an effort to get the program off the front pages. I was correct. I also thought that the program continued on, in secret. It appears I was correct about that, too.
Now Obama is up to his ears (not making a funny hear, just using a tattered and worn, but nevertheless appropriate cliche) in it. People say that power is never relinquished once possessed. People are right.
What Obama has shown is that Bush and his gang really were foolish to try to ignore the FISA court. It backfired on them, gave them bad publicity, made them seem like thuggish Orwellian fascist turds. Oops, excuse me, they WERE thuggish, Orwellian fascist turds. But if they hadn't been so arrogant as to dismiss the FISA court out of hand, they could have pretended to give f**k about law and legal procedures.
Obama, on the other hand, sees the value of the pretense.