July 3, 2013, 01:52 PM | #1 | |
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Snail Mail Snooping
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/us...mail.html?_r=0
Hmmm ... Quote:
With PRISM, if I correctly understand what I've been reading, they copy and store ALL e-mail messages, but they don't actually read them unless they later get a warrant. ("No, really, we don't. Honest. Heck, would we lie to you?") So they have a copy, not just of the so-called (inaccurately) metadata, but the actual communications. That makes PRISM vastly different and far more insidious than either snail mail program. |
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July 3, 2013, 02:14 PM | #2 |
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The potential for abuse is infinite. According to an FBI agent I delt with years ago in business was a question I asked regarding their "information acquisition", to which he replied "you don't really need a warrant if you're not going to court."(referencing wiretaping, circa mid 90's)
And the reason some have questioned why theybshould follow the rule of law, with that type of bureaucrat in power or supported by superiors is what?
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July 3, 2013, 05:14 PM | #3 |
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From the 1950's until 1973, the CIA had a similar program called HTLINGUAL. I'd not be surprised if it never actually ended.
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July 5, 2013, 09:41 AM | #4 |
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I'm not saying I agree with this practice, but I believe they are within the law (4th amendment) on this, as long as they only record and store the data that is on the OUTSIDE of the envelope.
We in fact have a reasonable expectation of privacy to our documents or whatever on the INSIDE of the envelope/package. If they want to peek on the inside they must obtain a search warrant. No such expectation of privacy could exist in regard to the data on the outside of the package, as it must be read in order to figure out where it's even supposed to go.
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July 5, 2013, 12:10 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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July 5, 2013, 01:04 PM | #6 |
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A few years ago I was given a tour of a large postal processing center. They have large machines that use some sort of camera to read the address, sort and route the mail. I’m sure they just maintain this stuff in a database for some period of time. In general I see no problem with them doing this, but would hope a warrant is required to review data on a specific individual.
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July 5, 2013, 04:58 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
With PRISM (as it has been described), the NSA doesn't capture just the "metadata" pertaining to e-mails and tweets, they actually capture the entire message. So they don't have any need to be quick about getting a warrant to read your messages. They can wait six months, or six years, then get a warrant and go back as far as the data collection allows. The warrant process is no longer time-sensitive. In other words, as others have pointed out, they are collective evidence on millions of people who are NOT suspects. The USPS address scanning doesn't even begin to compare with this. |
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