US Goverrnment Spying on Civilians...what is this?
111405
Let's not be naive, what is right or legal will not stop those with power from learning what they want to know. Our technological advances in the field of communications have presented an irresistible opportunity for those with power to abuse our rights. Our only hope for the future is that these powers are somewhat benevolent torward us. The only place you can know,... really know, that you have privacy, is the thoughts in your head.
505624
Oh man. You just questioned the United States government. You are not ordinary.
917031
Government records of who they listen in on are labeled secret information but yes they are supposed to be only calls in which at least one party is on foreign soil as far as not having to get the court approval.actually I think it could be two way American calls if one is already being investigated for possible terrorism. But it is really kinda moot who the hell would know? They don't have an overseer and its national security ya know. and if your not guilty you don't have anything to hide...right? Stupidest argument in the world I apologize for repeating that nonsense.... just_curious if they pass a law where they can put your grandmother in a consentration camp it would be legal!
41836
According to news sources, it seems that the kind of information given to the Government under subpoena was a sample of search queries without any individual user identifying information.\n\nI would guess that it is the kind of information disclosed by Yahoo and Google popular search queries only including all kinds of queries, just not popular queries.\n\nhttp://buzz.yahoo.com/\nhttp://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html\n\nHere is Yahoo's privacy policy:\n\nhttp://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/
272888
Our constitutional right to privacy was definitely negated in this situation. If the government suspects someone of having terroristic capabilities, I do not think it would be too hard for them to get a warrant to eavesdrop the legal way. Bush is just trying cover his butts, as well as other members of our government are doing likewise. There are many conspiracy theories floating around concerning Bush and a few other members of our government, I think it is time the people of this nation take our government back, too many "actors" in power with selfish intentions!
102648
However, as the above poster failed to point out, the Bush administration has done the opposite of low-level government; they have made the government more pominent. Domestic spying anyone?
8907
no! it makes me feel less safe in my own daily environment, and i know a lot of people that feel the same way. not only are the nsa's domestic spying operations illegal, but they are irrelevant, if not counterproductive, to achieving a real sense of security for the average american.
847574
In a 44-page memorandum and order, U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor struck down the NSA program, which she said violates the rights to free speech and privacy.\n\nThe defendants "are permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly utilizing the Terrorist Surveillance Program in any way, including, but not limited to, conducting warrantless wiretaps of telephone and Internet communications, in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Title III," she wrote.\n\nShe declared that the program "violates the separation of powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and Fourth amendments to the United States Constitution, the FISA and Title III."
50956
Unfortunatly/fortunatly the US has been so sheltered geographicly and culturaly that the bulk of the population doesn't understand the situation we're in. Consider the level of terrorist activity that exists in Europe, Asia, or Israel. Bombings in England, 3 weeks of COORDINATED rioting in France, rioting in Denmark by muslim extremists too, multiple bombings in Idonesia, Abu sayaf group in phillipines regularly beheading christian missionaries, etc etc etc. Americans being 'sheltered' haven't found the balance between national safety and freedom.\n\n"domestic" spying in this case was on groups and individuals specificly communicating with or tied to acknowledged terrorits organizations. In addition there was a documented authorization process in order to get the 'taps' in the first place. The controvesy is entirely domestic politics. The same people who are outraged by the "spying" will be the same people outraged that the gov't didn't do enough WHEN the next attack occurs on US soil.\n\nTheres a cliche saying "don't confuse the argument with facts". It's all too true. The issue is only debatable when you think with your heart instead of your head. I guess 9/11 wasn't enough to wake them up.
39413
Wouldn't it be ironic? If the laws that have been re-written in order to capture and prosecute the 'terrorist' both domestic & foreign were to be used in order to prosecute our own government? Since these laws are being used to spy on us as a country and as individuals, I say why not spy on yourselves? Find the one's within your own networks. And if that leads to the president and/or and top executives being 'held without charges' for who knows how long.... Lead on Macbeth!!!
632651
Amazing that there is not more protest about all the people thrown in jail from this spying.\n\nOh, no one has been thrown in jail?\n\nOh, people who are here illegally are protesting and not getting thrown in jail nor deported?\n\nDo you know of anyone who has had their right to privacy violated and used against them.
876028
I have assumed from the time I was a teenager that the government already monitors everything and that certain words or phrases are flagged, analyzed and stored.\n So if they are working together it would not surprise me the least.
627289
First off, who's "Asama?" Lucky the government hasn't started recording how often Americans make spelling errors... the terrorists might find out how illiterate the average American is :-p \n\nAlso, there's a big difference between voluntarily applying for credit cards and grocery store cards (and those companies using that information for marketing purposes) and the government secretly keeping track of who you call. It's not just a matter of "Don't call any terrorists and you'll be fine..." It's a matter of being able to control your personal information. When you apply for a credit card, you are willingly giving up personal information... and those companies have certain rules about HOW they can use that information, that they are required and willingly let you know about (and if you bother to read the terms of service they give you, you know what those rules are).  But, no one who made a phone call between September 11th and now had any idea that the government was keeping track of who they called and how often... and they certainly didn't consent to it. I'm not worried about the government breaking down my door because I know I haven't done anything wrong. But, it's a matter of the government crossing a line they had no right to cross. A peeping tom or even just a nosy neighbor looking in your window may not be hurting you in any way that can be measured, but wouldn't you feel violated just by the thought that they were watching you without your knowing, without your consent? Americans are hurt and angry about this because they feel violated and wonder, what's next?
488895
No, they leak a CIA operatives name! You really believe anything the governmeny has on anybody is confidential?\n\nEven if it were confidential, which means whatever they want it to mean, I don't want someone getting information on me without my knowledge. And why would they even want it?
394807
It is never necessary to spy on americans on american soil without properly obtaining explicit authorization from another branch of government.  Telling a few people in congress is not a warrant.  That's what the bill of rights and separation of powers are all about.  If we give up our freedom to be safe we are all a bunch of cowards.  \n\nThe person probably chose to reveal the program because it is illegal and violates the FISA law.  If you read the law there is absolutely no possible way to legally wiretap without getting a warrant.  It even allows for a 72 hour grace period where you can tap the person without a warrant, you just have to get one later.
829735
I knew they had been doing it all along. Seriously I dont mean that to sound crazy, but I assumed the government monitored everything already. I heard along time ago from someone when I was a kid that they have super computers that filter all telephone conversations and certain words and phrases are flagged for follow up. Honestly they have always gone too far and it will never stop as long as there are people who are like well if I have nothing to hide what does it matter. If you are not willing to stand up and fight for the freedoms our forfathers died for you don't deserve them. If you are willing to give up those rights to keep you safe from a shadowy elusive terrorist you dont deserve them.
111041
No its completely different. Peeping Tom's and stalkers have bad intentions where as wrong or right spying on american citizens is meant for safety.