The NSA Still Spying on Americans

From the New York Times:

WASHINGTON — The National Security Agency intercepted private e-mail messages and phone calls of Americans in recent months on a scale that went beyond the broad legal limits established by Congress last year, government officials said in recent interviews.

Several intelligence officials, as well as lawyers briefed about the matter, said the N.S.A. had been engaged in “overcollection” of domestic communications of Americans. They described the practice as significant and systemic, although one official said it was believed to have been unintentional.

Not surprised.

Change W. Can Believe In.

Comments

[Robert Eckerson]

I used to work for the NSA (sort of) when I was in the Navy. This kind of thing was absolutely forbidden back in the 80s. How low can we go?

[Georg Thomas]

Ze state doez not spy, ass you call itt, on anysing or anyone - by definission. Verstanden? You haff a konfused Kopf. "Significant and systemtic" are only ze risks created by ze capitalists zatt vee haff still not gott under Kontrolle fully. Butt vee are vorking on it. Obama vill solff zatt broblem too.

[Laura Ebke]

Pretty low, apparently.

[AngelaTC]

Vee do not torture, either!

[ptg]

You should have been there for MKULTRA. I'd take a good old-fashioned eavesdropping over what it did to me any day.

[Caleb]

I've thought for quite a while now that there is a very high boundary on what the government can do and the American public will just let it slide by. People will riot over an instance of police brutality, but few will even write a letter over domestic surveillance. I think those at the top are very wise about what they can get away with, and they take full advantage of it.

I was disheartened the other day when I listened to a tech podcast which discussed this issue. In their conversation they mentioned using cryptography and ways to protect yourself, but failed to even question the legality of the government's actions or show any kind of anger over what's happening.