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NSA Phone Program Is Illegal, Privacy Board Says
National Journal ^ | January 23, 2014 | Brendan Sasso

Posted on 01/23/2014 3:23:29 PM PST by JerseyanExile

The National Security Agency's program collecting records on virtually all U.S. phone calls violates the law, according to a government privacy board.

In a 238-page report released Thursday, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board calls for an end to the program, saying it has never stopped a terrorist attack and threatens the privacy of millions of Americans.

The report is yet another blow to the controversial program, which was first revealed by Edward Snowden last year.

Last Friday, President Obama announced his support for certain reforms to the program, including requiring court approval for the NSA to search through the phone data and moving the database out of the government's hands. But Obama insisted that the NSA keep its capability to mine millions of phone records, even if the structure of the program is changed.

Congress created the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board at the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, which called for an independent government agency to guard privacy rights. The small agency only recently became operational, and Thursday's report is its first major salvo against government surveillance.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: edwardsnowden; impeachnow; nsa; patriotact

1 posted on 01/23/2014 3:23:29 PM PST by JerseyanExile
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To: JerseyanExile

Yeah, b/c BO really cares what a “privacy board” thinks...


2 posted on 01/23/2014 3:25:36 PM PST by ObozoMustGo2012
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To: ObozoMustGo2012
His majastass has already ruled that he does not like it so he will ignore it and rule by a stroke of his pen.
3 posted on 01/23/2014 3:39:04 PM PST by oldenuff2no ("For which she should be charged with and face a jury. Not summarily executed.")
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To: JerseyanExile

Duh!!


4 posted on 01/23/2014 3:58:32 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: JerseyanExile
The National Security Agency's program collecting records on virtually all U.S. phone calls violates the law

Lots of people need to go to jail for this.

5 posted on 01/23/2014 3:59:26 PM PST by Count of Monte Fisto (The foundation of modern society is the denial of reality.)
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To: Count of Monte Fisto

Screw jail. It’s time to build gallows. Not just for the NSA, but the IRS, EPA, scumbag judges, politicians, you name it.

Time to clean house.


6 posted on 01/23/2014 4:04:58 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: JerseyanExile

They aren’t just collecting records; they’re collecting content. They just need the records to be able to search the content efficiently.


7 posted on 01/23/2014 4:43:07 PM PST by Carry_Okie (Grovelnator Shwarzenkaiser: fasionable fascism one charade at a time.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

“Yes, and?” — Barack Zero Osamabama


8 posted on 01/23/2014 4:52:13 PM PST by SunkenCiv (;http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
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To: Count of Monte Fisto
Lots of people need to go to jail for this.

Starting with James Clapper.

9 posted on 01/23/2014 6:13:07 PM PST by mac_truck ( Aide toi et dieu t aidera)
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To: JerseyanExile

Even in the Orwell Novel 1984, the government couldn’t spy on everyone all the time.

The NSA has that capability and they are doing it.

Big Bro is watching, listening and turning on your computer or phone camera any time they want for no other reason than that you are the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.


10 posted on 01/23/2014 6:32:12 PM PST by P-Marlowe (There can be no Victory without a fight and no battle without wounds)
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To: JerseyanExile

Anyone who thinks collecting communication records on every single American is just fine is not thinking clearly or is on the side of big government.

All we really need to do is look at the redefinition of “listening” to see what we’re up against. They are not “listening” if they collect every word you write or say. They are not “listening” if any search is “only” part of a huge database search. It’s only “listening” if they specifically search YOUR file by name.

So, if they run a search on “gun” and “own” of the entire database, they have a list of hits. They will have my name. They can refer to it if ever they deem it important.

But they haven’t “listened”.


11 posted on 01/24/2014 6:29:51 AM PST by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: P-Marlowe

We’ve reached the point where private communications are back to World War 2 methods, like messages hidden in shoes and playing cards.


12 posted on 01/24/2014 8:14:31 AM PST by tbw2
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To: P-Marlowe
Big Bro is watching, listening and turning on your computer or phone camera any time they want/p>

I don't know if most people get that. Anytime you are in the same room as any cell phone at all, or a computer or tablet that can get an Internet connection... someone from a government agency or a hacker can be listening to your conversations and also turn on the camera. If you are an enemy of the Obama administration the likelihood of this happen is most likely greatly increased. If you are a member of an Islamic sleeper cell however you don't need to worry because the Feds don't believe in racial or religious profiling of non-Christians.

13 posted on 01/24/2014 8:52:12 AM PST by fireman15 (Check your facts before making ignorant statements.)
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To: JerseyanExile

Most of what the federal government does is illegal.


14 posted on 01/24/2014 10:08:35 AM PST by PapaNew
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To: JerseyanExile

So?


15 posted on 01/24/2014 10:55:44 AM PST by VerySadAmerican (".....Barrack, and the horse Mohammed rode in on.")
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