Amash NSA defunding amendment squashed

upi ^ | July 24, 2013

[SMGFan]

WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Wednesday narrowly defeated Rep. Justin Amash's attempt to severely restrict the National Security Agency's telephone data mining.

The Michigan Republican's measure, opposed by the White House and congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, was voted down 205-217, Roll Call reported.

[freeandfreezing]

I haven’t seen any report that the metadata has been used for more than checking if numbers, email adds or whatever are connected to foreign surveilance targets.

If there are credible reports of other use, without warrant, I have not seen them. That would be a very ‘big deal’ and I think widely reported.

Here's another media report - this time of what appears to be a visit to and in-person interrogation of US citizens based on internet search terms. That seems like "other use" to me, and actually collection of much more than meta-data without any warrant. Searching for pressure cookers and backpacks triggers a visit from the police

[mrsmith]

Interesting.
One’s searches are not protected by the Constitution of course. IMO there is no good reason to pass laws protecting them either.

This does show incredible overreach, waste and inefficiency though if the search was instigated from a ‘search examining’ algorithm!

I’ll check back on that report, thanks.

[mrsmith]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3050147/posts?page=34#34

Employer reported it.