How the NSA Threatens National Security

Schneier on Security ^ | 1/13/2014 | Bruce Schneier

[NewHampshireDuo]

[....]

First and foremost, the surveillance state is robust. It is robust politically, legally, and technically. I can name three different NSA programs to collect Gmail user data. These programs are based on three different technical eavesdropping capabilities. They rely on three different legal authorities. They involve collaborations with three different companies. And this is just Gmail. The same is true for cell phone call records, Internet chats, cell-phone location data.

[....]

Our choice isn't between a digital world where the NSA can eavesdrop and one where the NSA is prevented from eavesdropping; it's between a digital world that is vulnerable to all attackers, and one that is secure for all users.

Fixing this problem is going to be hard. We are long past the point where simple legal interventions can help.

[....]

The bill in Congress to limit NSA surveillance won't actually do much to limit NSA surveillance. Maybe the NSA will figure out an interpretation of the law that will allow it to do what it wants anyway. Maybe it'll do it another way, using another justification. Maybe the FBI will do it and give it a copy. And when asked, it'll lie about it.

[NewHampshireDuo]

The complete article at the link has many links for further information and back up. I consider Bruce Schneier's blog essential daily reading.

[Graewoulf]

Lemme see now, the main difference between Hitler’s Gestapo and Obama’s NSA is what?

[NewHampshireDuo]

Lemme see now, the main difference between Hitler’s Gestapo and Obama’s NSA is what?

Obama's (and don't forget Bush) is far more effective and encompassing.

[Jack Hydrazine]

[Jack Hydrazine]

They’ve been spying on everyone and everything since their inception by Democrat Truman.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Lemme see now, the main difference between Hitler’s Gestapo and Obama’s NSA is what?

Technology.

[Graewoulf]

Thanks for clearing that up.

You are so Reich!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Has anyone to date been arrested for a crime and the government has presented the plainiff’s collected NSA data for use in prosecution?

[uncommonsense]

Concentration of global, ubiquitous data, information, intel, proprietary technical superiority, a profound desire for secrecy, and no accountability - opens up the apparatus to turn the tables on us from foreign agents, rogue internal agents, and would-be dictators or cabals.

The vast majority of useful-idiots in high level fed-gov positions barely know how to re-boot their computer, much less understand the intricacies and risks of data collection on the scale of the NSA.

Hi John! Love your chrome-dome, semi-nerdy persona.

[wita]

I would suggest NDAA makes anything “they” choose to do just Oaky doky. Take for example the CA movie maker that inspired ben gazie. Has he been charged with anything, is he still behind bars, is he basically incognito?

[uncommonsense]

"Has anyone to date been arrested for a crime and the government has presented the plainiff’s collected NSA data for use in prosecution?"

It's hard to tell since everything about the program is top secret. Snowden disclosed NSA info is passed to other gov agencies to take action on, so we can assume it has been used in prosecution.

[Dr. Ursus]

How about catching the East Europeans that are hacking our retail stores?

[Gene Eric]

>> The bill in Congress to limit NSA surveillance won’t actually do much to limit NSA surveillance.

Prolly cuz it wasn’t meant to.

[Ax]

Zowie! There sure was a heck of a lot going on at the Agency during my 33 years there that escaped my attention.