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In reply to the discussion: Daily Kos, Democratic Underground Blast "Sociopathic," "Evil" Obama [View all]Fire Walk With Me
(38,893 posts)department in the surveillance state which will do nothing but analyze captured data and metadata.
Of course they're not spying on us. And this new division has nothing, zero zip zilch nada to analyze. What disappointing reports they'll be filing.
Are you not aware that police departments are tentacles of DHS through the iWatch program? Specifically? Knowing that (easily proven, links provided), see what LAPD are doing regarding spying and the mass collection of private data and conversation, and know it's likely nation-wide and that yes, it goes to DHS and DHS share such data with the other acronym agencies (FOIA documents are specifically redacted regarding inter-agency sharing under DHS etc. request).
Spying is local too......look no further than the Los Angeles Police Department
http://www.laactivist.com/2013/06/21/bringing-the-argument-home-about-domestic-spying
Besides the SARs and iWatch programs, the LAPD also has several cameras positioned around the city that use TrapWire technology, a predictive software that can allegedly detect suspicious behavior in connection with terrorism.
Another technology employed by the LAPD is a suitcase-sized device called StingRay. It mimics a cell phone tower, tricking every cell phone in a neighborhood into connecting to it. Once connected, police can grab information from everyones phone in the area, not just the suspects.
StingRay was purchased with Dept. of Homeland Security Funds. It was meant for counterterrorism, but according to documents obtained by LA Weekly, in 2012, the LAPD used StingRay 21 times within four-months in burglary, drug and murder investigations.
The LAPD has said their use of StingRay is legal. However, the department remains extremely secretive about it, declining to explain how the devices are used, how much money was spent on them or whether or not the department adequately explains the power of the technology to judges when seeking search warrants.
(Much more at the link.)
For more reading:
How LAPD are made into a tentacle of the DHS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022154200