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82 Comments
- skynetos, on 10/12/2007, -5/+55Sounds like you let everyone and anyone walk all over you, and you don't even care. You sir don't stand up for yourself, and thats sad.
- icexe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+36"They can only do something to you if you are a TERRORIST. "
and how long before the definition of a terrorist changes?
"We feel that openly expressing opposing views of the government is unpatriotic, if you are being unpatriotic, you are aiding the terrorists." people really, really need to start re-reading 1984, we are so damn close to the edge it's downright scary. - doublebackslash, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39One right at a time is degraded and our lives slowly splayed open for the amusement of the government. A line must be drawn, and unless it is drawn as closely as possible to privacy there will be endless interpretation and abuse of the legal limits.
Privacy is the number one thing on my mind these days. It keeps the government honest to have citizen's privacy as a first priority and the government's as a last. Our government now can keep to many secrets from us, it is almost like they are fighting a shadow war on its own citizentry.
Enough is enough. Write your congress men, let them know that you care about things like net neutrality, privacy, and every other practice that keeps the government and corporations from abusing the citizentry.
Speak out before your voice is gone and you find yourself on the wrong side of the government. - Hyperion, on 10/12/2007, -7/+35"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither" - Ben Franklin
- tanveer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+27"NSA - Can they Hear You Now? Can They Trace Your IP Now?"
- Of course they can, if they wanted to...they always could, however time consuming or complicated. That's not the issue. The issue here is that AT&T - a commercial/publicly held telecom company secretly working almost on behalf of a National/Govt. secret service/agency by making the process way easier for them. And that's what's disturbing - for a commercial/publicly owned company to do something like that w/o any public knowledge. - Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -0/+25("How is searching TERRORISTS illegal?
To all LIBERALS: We're going to protect you even if you don't want to be.")
"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
The tactic worked in the 30's and 40's... seems to still work today. - socket, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24This man should be commended for taking a huge risk and being brave enough to come forward. This little deal AT&T has with the NSA is pretty scary. It give the NSA a blank check to monitor any of the traffic they want anytime they want it... with less then ZERO oversight.
The government should be afraid of it's people not the other way around. - skynetos, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27As usual. Some people will say "I have nothing to hide so I dont care". Those people are already owned by the government. You wouldn't let me sniff your traffic even if you have nothing to hide right? So why would you let the strangers at the NSA do it?
- rstevens, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24The founding fathers of America knew that government needed checks and balances because man, when given too much power, inheritantly becomes corrupt.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+31This has been on digg four times in past few days.
http://digg.com/security/AT_T_forwards_all_Internet_traffic_into_NSA
http://digg.com/technology/Ex-AT_T_Worker_Tells_Of_NSA_Spying_Operation
http://digg.com/security/Feds_gained_access_to_ALL_records_of_your_phone_calls_and_online_activity_
http://digg.com/security/Whistle-Blower_Outs_NSA_Spy_Room - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22That is the dumbest argument ever, "if you're not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about".
Has everyone forgotten about this??
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. - isny, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18That isn't communism, it's fascism.
- there, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17"How many terrorist attacks have there been since 9/11 in the US?"
It was 7 years between the first WTC bombing and 9/11.
When the next terrorist act comes (and it will)... which right in the constitution do you permanently intend to give up next? - Prolix, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18We're *****.
- minor3rd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17we are systematically having all our rights stripped away. reichstag fire, trade center, patriot act, tracking what you READ ffs. we are the serfs of the new republic all rights suspend, for whom we bleed. internal passports will probably happen this year, after we nuke iran.
just wait, in a few months they will fire up those detention camps and round up all the illegals and anyone else protesting too much.
google for 'army civilian inmate labor program'. good stuff. - drawkbox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15Not to mention anti-competitive, I bet the gov't would like tot see AT&T succeed over other business if they cut a deal. This is too much under the table. And by the way compiling news into an index (making a blog) can get you classified as a "terrorist" I would say this is more about managing dissent, political rivals and ESPECIALLY business spying than anything else. If you like your privacy to keep your business ideas private, well then you should have a SERIOUS problem with this NSA thing. This is not a level playing field and thus is anti-competitive. There is noone accountable, how much would it cost to buy someone in the NSA to help you find out what your rivals are doing?
- trevorsm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12I love how people always write TERRORISTS OMG in all caps.
- there, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13"To all LIBERALS: We're going to protect you even if you don't want to be."
Throwing around terms without meaning deflates their purpose. This isn't a political issue. It's a freedom issue that concerns everyone. Are Libertarians "Liberal" now? Or how about Republicans?
"THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE," declared REPUBLICAN Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He promised hearings early next year.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,178893,00.html - icexe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13"The only rights they are infringing are the TERRORISTS, who do not have a single right, if you're not doing anything wrong then you don't have a thing to worry about."
My god, does no one learn from history? Those are the EXACT same arguments every single oppressive regime in history has used to justify their actions!!
Let me put it in a way you would maybe understand better. What if bill Clinton had been the one authorizing the wiretappings? What if it was a democratic run congress that was saying it's OK for the NSA to track any and all Internet traffic at their own discretion? Would you still be stilling there thinking there was nothing wrong?
Stop being blinded by your love of all things neocon and get your head out of your ass. - hchaudh1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14Well "they" did take some guy in a few days back because he listened to The Immigrant Song and something else too. Just for listening to songs. His cabbie reported him and he was arrested. I think the story was on Digg!
- SniperGX1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12It really doesn't matter, IP addresses mean nothing to a court. There are dozens of ways to obscure an IP address. The reasonable doubt factor is also high with an IP address as evidence. This is why the MPAA/RIAA settles out of court. They have NO case. Use a crap ton of encryption, make sure you Dban old hard drives, and use services like TOR and don't worry about the NSA.
- Toshibi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Yeah, but here's something even scarier. The US could just pick up the logs from our allies Great Britain or Australia. It's not unconstitutional for them to look through other countries intelligence on us.
- mobyrock, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Government is a utility to service the people of a nation, and as such, should be controlled and only used as needed by a people. The people are ultimately in control, and the government operates only as allowed by the people. But in America, the government has become a living entity serving itself, and has forgotten its original intent.
An individual's right to privacy, property, and right to speak or not to speak should not be infringed by the government. The government should not use electronic or other means of covert surveillance of an individual's actions or private property without the consent of the owner or occupant.
I understand that this limits the government's ability to monitor and capture terrorists, but we should not be willing to sacrifice our personal rights in order to provide security to the nation. This is a broken system. - Yorn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is its natural manure." -- Thomas Jefferson
When/If they come for you, will you give up your liberty, or water the tree? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9While digging this story to get it read is marvelous, if you really feel this is an important issue, you should go donate a few bucks to the EFF.
You don't have to shed blood to keep democracy alive. All it takes is $15, and it really does help.
https://secure.eff.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DON_splash - cyclotron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9We all break little laws all day long - what we throw in the trash, speeding, seat belts, cheat a little on our taxes, whatever. We dont think much about it because most of the time the cops dont care. Flash back to the Vietnam War and CA. Gov Reagan used the FBI intel on civilians to harass war protestors and teachers at Berkeley but charging them with all these little infractions.
This matters because any given time we are guilty of something. We've allowed too many common sense laws, morality laws, environment laws, behavior laws... And when they arrest you they charge you for everything under the sun so that some will stick. Or, They just use info to manipulate you to. You havent done anything wrong, but they scare you, threaten you, make you worry, maybe uncover love affairs or similar, or that you masterbate - whatever they need to make you do what they want...
That said. ISPs have always been able to trace our IPs to our accounts. This is not new. Face it, since you people believe in big centralized govenment with your social services or your morality laws, this is what you deserve and I laugh in your face for facilitating this behavior. Democrats and Republicans are equally to blame. Go to the mirror and point at yourself. You've allowed 1984 to become a reality through your individual weaknesses, laziness, and failures. You NEED government like an infant needs mother's milk. Until you take responsibility for your own life, you'll always suck at the tit of government. And the goverment will bitch slap you like a pimp for it. - chaosmachine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Big Brother is logging.
- drawkbox, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Alomst all encryption has an NSA trapdoor or the libraries that run the RSA algorithms. Only PGP is NSA-less. THey do manage encryption very closely to make sure that they can break it if needed. They have the power fo overcome encryption of the day except PGP. THat is why they freaked on Phil Zimmerman for a decade.
http://www.rsasecurity.com/rsalabs/node.asp?id=2316 - drawkbox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"As the premier cryptographic government agency, the NSA has huge financial and computer resources and employs a host of cryptographers. Developments in cryptography achieved at the NSA are not made public; this secrecy has led to many rumors about the NSA's ability to break popular cryptosystems like DES (see Section 3.2), as well as rumors that the NSA has secretly placed weaknesses, called ``trapdoors,'' in government-endorsed cryptosystems. These rumors have never been proved or disproved. Also the criteria used by the NSA in selecting cryptography standards have never been made public"
http://www.rsasecurity.com/rsalabs/node.asp?id=2316 - scotty1024, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8How can this go evil?
Let's see, the government continues to got a rating of D- on Cybersecurity. All we've heard for the last oh 20 years is how this hacker or that hacker has exploited the Internet and busted into the DOD, FBI, CIA, IRS, etc... If they busted into the NSA and grabbed goodies they send a SEAL team to smoke 'em and recover the data right? That way the hackers know to stay away from their weak security?
RIAA/MPAA do they have access to this data, legally or otherwise? HBO could do a very good job of watching us if they had access through AT&T. Is there an HBO room right next to the NSA room? Or can HBO just scratch the NSA's back, free HBO for all NSA employees say, and skip setting up their own HBO room?
And context is everything when you are eavesdropping. There could be a long standing conversation that the NSA grabs a slice out of and that slice, standing alone, looks pretty damning. It is also well known that some (if not all) humans need to release stress through a communication process commonly referred to as "venting". If one vents in what one thought was a private context and now the NSA is listening?
Well I guess now you'd better wait until you can huddle in bed with your loved one, with the covers tucked tightly over your heads and a masking noise generator running on the bed side table. And even then you might better be careful in censoring what you express.
Those who think they are immune because only criminals need fear this, need to remind themselves, every day our lawmakers are in session, they criminalize our society a little bit more...
When they come for you, as you sit there all law abidingly secure in your cozy little Hallmark Gift Shoppe examining those 20 much lower cost cute stuffed bears you ordered from a new supplier over the Internet. But as it turns out were actually illegally imported and sold to you by "terrorists" to finance their operations. Try not to cry as they lead you away from your shoppe in handcuffs, especially as they lead you past the CNN camera crew. Whilst somewhere close by some local police official is giving CNN an interview stating: you can't be soft on these terrorist collaborators, they are supplying the terrorist with what he needs most: money. And when they are interrogating you later and put down copies of images some Russian based sex spam operation emailed you of "Russian Lolitas". Which of course you deleted immediately from your inbox and forgot about, but their spy network carefully saved a copy of. And thus you are technically in violation for having possessed them, well, too bad you don't have a knife to cut your own throat with at that point. For when you can't catch Osama and his buddies you must nurture the Tree of Liberty with the blood of your own citizens. - socket, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7You're right and that's fairly common practice. I find that to be just as scary if not more then this AT&T thing.
- drawkbox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7No but one company owns nearly all switches, an israeli company also part of the spy ring a while back.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7544.htm - Daem0nX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"How many terrorist attacks have there been since 9/11 in the US?"
We had the NSA, CIA, [insert names here] in place and 9/11 still happened.
Show me proof that there actually would have been another attack without the NSA then I might believe they actually helped stop another. - Aeiri, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7If you were to watch my Internet activity, you would probably look at the first 3 or 4 URLs, scream terrorist, and call the FBI.
There are many reasons why I would appear to be a terrorist.
1) I hack for a living. Going out over my Internet connections are (legal) attacks on company's computer systems. They pay me to do this, so they don't get attacked by evil people.
2) I am curious. I lookup strange information on the Internet in my spare time. I lookup information about weapons of mass destruction: how they work, what they are made out of, how destructive they are, etc. I lookup quotes and information about the Nazis, Communists, Socialists, Facists, Totalitarians, etc. I do this to understand how they think, and how to spot someone trying to incrementally turn us into these regimes in order to STOP them.
3) I am a gamer. I speak strategy involving war tactics, terrorism, and other "evil" things over emails and IMs. If someone didn't know I was talking about Counter-Strike, Command and Conquer, or other games, they would think I was planning to bomb or attack America.
4) I am a Libertarian. I dislike both republican AND democratic viewpoints. Since those are the only choices our society allows, any differing viewpoints must mean I'm un-American, right?
5) I am very philosophic. My brother and I get into some strange conversations involving the reasons of our existance, the reasons our society is the way it is, and the reasons our government is the way it is. On many occasions we have talked about things such as: "If the world were to explode and everyone on it were to just drop dead, would that be a good thing?"
6) I don't fit in, at all. I hate our society, I hate our government, I hate living, period. I find it to be torture just to exist, but I live my life out the best I can and try to enjoy myself while I'm here. However, I would never consider killing other people because of it.
7) I try to understant people. I try to research the reasons the way the terrorists think the way they do. In some respects they are absolutely right. We need to get our asses out of their countries, however does that mean they should "fight fire with fire", as it were? Absolutely not, they make themselves and their points look completely retarded. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most brilliant people in the world.
Now do any of these reasons make me a terrorist? Nope, but if you didn't know their context, I'm sure you would throw me in Guantamino Bay. - skynetos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6no I dont think all calls are routed through one switch room.. maybe for that localized location.. not for the whole nation. Meaning, at the other locations they have similar rooms.
- jguzman40, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The amazing thing is that these news are not making huge waves! Where the hell are the 60 minutes and dateline exposes? I feel lpeople just dont care! Wrinting to my congressperson is the only thing that comes to mind. Anyone interested in listing all freely available (easy to install and use) crypto software? Scary stuff..
- n00854180t, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5If I were the AT&T guy that came forward with this, I'd be worried about getting killed.
- starmanjones, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5>they can only do something to you if you are a TERRORIST.
they can do something for no reason at all. they can do somthing if they think you mght be a terroist. in fact, if they have a choice between... holding you in case you are a terrorist or letting you go hoping you aren't... im sure a significant number of people would get held unjustly... because wouldnt it be better to hold someone for an indeterminant period of time than having one dirty bomb go off in a city?
i had a tech support guy that repeated in a newsgroup the jefferson quote about a little revolution is good, and he got a knock at the door by secret service that sat with him while the president was in town. this was a few years agot before we started loosing things. it seemed completely over the top at the time it happened. now i think we would compliment the agents on their manners. thats how far weve slid. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@Hyperion
"Those who would sacrifice ESSENTIAL liberties for a little TEMPORARY safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin
If you're going to post this quote, which has really become a cliche recently, you at least should get it right. Read the way you posted it, every single member of a Democracy must by definition NOT deserve liberty, because the fact is EVERYONE sacrifices liberty for safety. The key point that Franklin was making is that we must not sacrifice ESSENTIAL liberties, such as those guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, in exchange for TEMPORARY safety, such as safety from foreign enemies during a time of war. - Yorn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
--Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Why should I have to prove myself innocent?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here!"
- goldenratio, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Ever hear the term "slippery slope"?
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The NSA is a waste of funding. Their spying does nothing to stop crime or terror, it only harasses innocent people.
- there, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You need to look at his issue more imaginatively.
You are looking at this as if you think everyone is imagining some dolt reading your digg post or email. Of course not.
What IS happening though is this data is electronically filed away somewhere and put into a dossier about "you". They know who you are where you live, who your friends are, probably record your voice conversations, what you buy with your credit cards, your political leanings....and the list goes on and on.
Excuse me but last I checked wasn't wholesale spying on Americans illegal? Otherwise what is FISA and the purpose of the 4th amendment? We didn't need to take these measure against a fully nuclear armed Soviet Union.. but we need it against a bunch of disorganized religious zealots?
Indeed the job of intelligence people is just to collect the data not make policy but there is ZERO accountability to the public at the moment. When have you ever known that process to work out?
I continue to be amazed by how many people are ignorant to the fact that it is ILLEGAL for the NSA to spy on Americans under current laws except under very scrutinized and limited situations that require warrants (AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN).
This whole experience has taught me that freedom to a great extent is not only about left or right wing ideology... it is also about watching out for the creepy people that put too much trust in the infallibility of authority. - lollerskates, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4They totally can't trace my laptop.
It's not even connected to the internet! - waynechng, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3No one should govern the Internet. The Internet belongs to the human race and not to any government body or corporation. Fight for your right to information!
In personal casual conversation, I think that it's hypocritical that most of those who are proponent to the idea that it's okay for the government to listen to their Internet activity are very much opposed to government censorship that China practices. - WDot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Does this remind anyone of the book "Animal Farm?" I'm surprised everyone thinks of 1984 but not that.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
-Pastor Martin Niemöller
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
-George Santayana - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Of course the government could identify you as a terrorist. Maybe you happen to not have dark skin--that's a lucky break for you, but maybe you also speak openly about your desire for the destruction of western civilization and the radical depopulation of human beings; I know I do. Maybe you happen to study computer hacking, physical intrusion, bomb building, and counter-surveillance, because it's a fun hobby.
I've read comments by political extremists online MANY TIMES that made me suspect that person might be--at the minimum--a terrorist sympathizer. I can only imagine the crazy ***** I would find out about any one of you if I had the eavesdropping capabilities of the NSA. Threats against the life of the President alone--I guarantee a large percentage of people who commented on this thread could find themselves in prison if the NSA really listened to every phone call they've ever made and read every online exchange.
But, until we have artificial intelligence that can effectively monitor all that information without human intervention, the government is only going to pick up on a very small percentage of the traffic. They are likely not even going to look at your information--that will all be swept aside so they can concentrate on people who fit the profile. If you have dark skin, though, and a foreign-sounding name, and you shout "death to America" on a regular basis, you might want to look out. -
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