NSA admits listening to U.S. phone calls without warrants

cnet ^ | June 15, 2013 4:39 PM PDT | Declan McCullagh

[tje]

The National Security Agency has acknowledged in a new classified briefing that it does not need court authorization to listen to domestic phone calls.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, disclosed this week that during a secret briefing to members of Congress, he was told that the contents of a phone call could be accessed "simply based on an analyst deciding that."

If the NSA wants "to listen to the phone," an analyst's decision is sufficient, without any other legal authorization required, Nadler said he learned. "I was rather startled," said Nadler, an attorney who serves on the House Judiciary committee.

[sand88]

They have the capability of storing every electronic conversation. That is why they are building that huge data storehouse in Utah.

I have read it will have 5 Yottabytes of storage. That's 5 x 10 ** 24. That is a mind boggling amount of storage capability.

George Orwell had no idea that when Big Brother took over he could not only listen to conversations in real time, but go back years and pick up conversations that you have long ago forgotten you even had.

People need to quickly come to grasps with the fact that so much information about everyone is a recipe for a true and violent police state.

This information is pure power: In the coming years, it will confirm the adage, that power corrupts, and absolutely power corrupts absolutely.

Somehow all this information stored by the NSA must be destroyed (through legal means.)

There is absolutely no justification for any society to have it's government maintain such all encompassing information on it's citizens.

The slimy politicians will be tempted to play God with our lives. It will lead absolutely lead to tyranny.

[machman]

[cookcounty]

I was willing to go along with some of this, but this is outrageous. The listening in on calls in Pakistan or even Pakistan to or from the US was okay with me, but this has huge ramifications for corruptibility of the entire political system.

WE have to take this system down.

[RginTN]

NSA to Fourth Amendment...no comprende

[cookcounty]

Congressman Nunes on Judge Janeen stated that there was a LOT more to come, that it’s the biggest scandal in the history of the United States.....and he has, until recently been a supporter of the NSA activities (the ones that we already know about).

[1010RD]

It’s a set up. Blind our intelligence just in time for an October Surprise in 2014 or sooner. This entire mess stinks and you can’t trust a thing.

[cookcounty]

"Let’s cut the crap. You do not know for a certain what NSA is doing."

Devin Nunes (R-CA), reliably conservative on 90% of issues and with a history of a support of NSA (NOT a Ron Paul-bot), said today that what the public knew this morning is nothing compared to what's coming out, calls it the biggest scandal in US history.

[hoosiermama]

I saw that. Wasn’t sure if he was saying there’s a lot more to the government system or more that Snowden could release.

My opinion is DC is shaking in their boots. They wouldn’t be that shook up and dissing Snowden if they weren’t doing something wrong IMO Trying to destroy the messenger before he can deliver the message

[jobim]

Where does that leave purveyors of cars, of alcohol, of potato chips, of lawn mowers, of swimming pools, and any other item associated with death?

[sand88]

Congressman Nunes on Judge Janeen stated that there was a LOT more to come, that it’s the biggest scandal in the history of the United States.....and he has, until recently been a supporter of the NSA activities (the ones that we already know about).

What sources does he have for the "there was a LOT more to come" statement? Or, was it just speculation on his part?

[stockpirate]

FYI

[thegrump]

Yep, warrants, we don’t need no stinking warrants. /sarc

[Absolutely Nobama]

Not gonna happen anytime soon, especially with Obama running the Rei-—er, uh, country.

[okie01]

I can’t that but that sort of approach.

Understand what you mean (I think).

But, somehow, Jabba the Nadler seems a little more credible in this contretemps than Dianne, the Duchess of San Fran.

[rintense]

Class action suit against the NSA. Who’s in?

[Henry Hnyellar]

Sadly, I have to agree. The lesser of two evils.

[Slambat]

“NSA-does not need court authorization to listen to domestic phone calls.” ]

Yea and cops don’t have to show up to crimes in progress either including rape.

They don’t need our permission to do what they want
and they can’t be held accountable for what they do.

Sorry folks but tyranny has officially been established in
the United States.

[Nifster]

And they do so with seeming impunity

[PieterCasparzen]

Congressman Nunes on Judge Janeen stated that there was a LOT more to come, that it’s the biggest scandal in the history of the United States.....and he has, until recently been a supporter of the NSA activities (the ones that we already know about).

The real scandal is new world order being the creator of the CIA, but that really can't come out, because Fox can't put that on the air.

[PieterCasparzen]

BTW, good posts you’ve made here, IMHO.