Telecoms let NSA spy on calls
I think everyone who reads the blog (thanks to both of you!) knows how I feel about the whole NSA spying story. At the end of this article they mention that the NSA uses a 48 point checklist to determine whether or not a wiretap is justified. What if they made it a 49 point checklist with the last point being whether they have included the judicial branch in their little process.
February 6th, 2006
As always, Big Brother is watching……..or in this case, listening!
February 6th, 2006
I find it disturbing that this is happening and that there isn’t more uproar. I remember former FBI Director, Louis Freeh, tried to get the telcos to build in access for easy tapping back in the 90’s. He was officially rebuffed, but I’m willing to bet the availaiblity of tapping digital and analog systems has been around at least that long. That the companies will do this without a warrant and with an oral request is especially disturbing. Since there is not much at present that can be done, that will be done, about this, I suppose I’ll have to not let it bother me until there appears to be a way I can help put a stop to it. I think it is going to take a big fuss from the electorate and some damning judicial review via suits against these practices before anything meaningful can be done about it.
February 7th, 2006
Welcome to the world of CALEA (Communications Assistance For Law Enforcement Act). Even then I found it an unsettling bit of legislation. The phone companies were required to install equipment that allows the government an easy mechanism to tap phone lines via a simple automated selection process. CALEA was passed in 1994.
February 7th, 2006
While I don’t like it on bit, I am not so sure that this is illegal domestic spying. It very well may be that given the international connection it is connected to the inherent war power of the executive branch. And ther is some history to support such an argument.
Further, I see a difference between listening to incoming foregin calls for terrorist plots and the spying that took place that contributed to the 1978 law, such as spying on MLK to see if he is having an affair to discredit him.
Like I said I don’t like it but that doesn’t make it illegal.