NEWS: Big Brother Breaking the Law

POLITICS: Big Brother Breaking the Law

Thanks to the Patriot Act we’ve become used to the idea that our communications and personal records may be monitored by the US Government. But now the FBI is admitting that they may have been breaking the law while snooping on Americans in their effort to fight terrorism.

The Feds discovered the violations in an audit of its national security investigations, violations that the FBI initially claimed numbered only a few dozen. Now after a more comprehensive audit it appears Uncle Sam has crossed the line more than 1000 times while searching through the private data of American citizens. With only 10 percent of the audit completed, those numbers are sure to go up. While the FBI says they are enacting new guidelines to help prevent abuses in the future, Civil liberties advocates are raising concerns.

The focus of the investigation centers mainly on so-called “national security letters” documents used to obtain private records without court approval. Luckily, the FBI is assuring us that all the violations were on mistake and their was no intentional criminal misconduct.

America! Fuck yeah!

You guys had your chance. Canada'd take you.

Now it's too late.

Ten thousand-odd "mistakes"?

Uh huh.

Oops.

I swear... I just tripped and hit the "spy on the public" button. It was an accident really. You have to believe me.

They should stop using the "Easy" button.

It's labelled "Patriot".

I thought Amazon patented the one-click.

It was licensed

But who is the subject of the "Two minute Hate ?"

I bet this is just an excuse to tinker with the Patriot Act and add in the stuff they missed the first time.

:Gasp: are you implying that someone has an agenda??

Fuck that. I lived in canada while going to school. Different problems, same shit.

And there was me reading the headline and thinking they were finally going to axe a reality TV show.
Shame.

Same here.

Well having my self monitored almost twenty four seven I can't understand where all the anger is coming from. If it makes things safer and they document the findings every time they do it, and reasons for spying, more power to them. I can understand that many people fear that this will be abused but I am sure that a lot of people here have been a part of small crimes in the last year, and a guy in big black suit hasn't shown up at your door yet huh. There is always tomorrow though, you never know when they will come by.....

Never mind the fact that there is no proof any of these measures have made the country safer... Or the fact that what they're doing is FUCKING ILLEGAL!!
If you have no problem having your personal life invaded... more power to you. Actually, in that case, I'd like your phone number, address and credit card numbers. You clearly won't mind right?

I'm confused, and a bit nervous about your willingness to extrapolate your existence under military leadership to all facets of life for all Americans. You repeatedly cite your military experiences as (my words) not that bad, and suggest we would all be satisfied under similar treatment.

I think you're wrong. I grew up a long time ago and no longer require or want 24/7 assisted living. I will wait another 30 years or so before I feel the need for that kind of "help."

+1

Where is the proof that any of these measures have actually made anyone, anywhere safer?

Actually no.

Many people feared, five years ago, that abuses like this would occur - were bound to occur under the Patriot Act. This simply proves their predictions right.

Or did you not understand that the 1000+ instances mentioned themselves constitute abuse? Or do you believe that the black helicopters have to show up and "disappear" those 1000 people for abuse to occur?