Good overview of what they are up to.
The NSA is not only the world’s largest spy agency (far larger than the CIA, for example), but it possesses the most advanced technology for intercepting communications. We know it has long had the ability to focus powerful surveillance capabilities on particular individuals or communications. But the current scandal has indicated two new and significant elements of the agency’s eavesdropping:
- The NSA has gained direct access to the telecommunications infrastructure through some of America’s largest companies
- The agency appears to be not only targeting individuals, but also using broad “data mining” systems that allow them to intercept and evaluate the communications of millions of people within the United States.
The Parliament report is here.
Ok, so maybe I’m a nit-picker, but anyone else starting to get irritated with the way this shit is being described as “eavesdropping”?
Eavesdropping. Who can say s/he’s never “eavesdropped” on some conversation s/he shouldn’t be hearing?
Eavesdropping is harmless. Everyone does it.
This is not eavesdropping. It’s spying. Bugging. Wiretapping. Data mining. It’s not eavesdropping.
Agreed Stark! I am sick to death of the way they “frame” things to make them sound more positive to the schmoes out there. Spying, especially without a warrant is illegal no matter how they try to frame it like the latest “terrorist serveillence program” bullshit! Then there is the media that goes along and repeats over and over again their meme. Ugh!
on that subject, anyone catch the name of the book/author on the links b/w gov and corporate entities in “information sharing” that was featured on the Daily Show last night?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/1/195344/1903
Helluvagood post there, Mattes. Is that you over there?
Now tell me it hit the rec list …
I believe it did!
The book is “No Place To Hide” by Robert O’Harrow. I had tivo’d the Dialy SHow last night and just watched it. So, there ya go Stark!
let the soviets in a few decades ago. Probably wouldnt be much different.
Great diary but if the Democrats are going to pursue this issue it would help to remove the ‘tin hat’ references.
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Return to third world procedures by counting ballots at the polling stations, use purple ink when vote is cast and avoid communicating provisional tallies through corporate/government owned telephone lines where results can be corrupted.
Telecom Collaborated with NSA to Spy on Customers
San Francisco Jan. 31, 2006 — The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a class-action lawsuit against AT&T, accusing the telecom giant of violating the law and the privacy of its customers by collaborating with the National Security Agency (NSA) in its massive and illegal program to wiretap and data-mine Americans’ communications.
● SAIC ownership of Telcordia: Verizon, Network Solutions and partnership with Accenture (former Anderson Consulting)
Surprise! My diary of one year ago at Daily Kos.
“But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
They’re making the move to a huge centralized operation in CO with all the same names and shadows we’ve come to know.