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marmar

(76,976 posts)
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 12:42 PM Jan 2014

NSA’s Preference for Metadata


from Consortium News:



NSA’s Preference for Metadata
January 13, 2014

Exclusive: The hidden ball in the debate over the NSA’s collection of phone and e-mail metadata (vs. tapping into actual conversations with a court order) is that the NSA actually prefers the metadata approach because it strips away privacy more efficiently, says ex-NSA analyst Kirk Wiebe.


By Kirk Wiebe


Senior national security officials, from President Barack Obama on down, have made light of the National Security Agency’s intrusive monitoring of the public by saying “only” metadata about communications, not the content of those communications, are collected. One might ask, then, why is it that intelligence and law enforcement officials much prefer this metadata approach?

For one, analysts can determine a great deal about a person – any person – by following the electronic crumbs that people inevitably leave behind in the course of their daily routines. And this data-byte-crunching analysis is much less time-consuming than monitoring each phone call or reading each e-mail.

So, the distinction between listening in on conversations and “just” collecting phone numbers called and the duration of the conversations is a red herring. The truth is that persistent, bulk collection of metadata in support of analysis is – not can be – more revealing over time than content, the latter prohibited from collection unless probable cause criteria have been met in the eyes of a court.

Metadata collection can answer all but one of the five “W’s” of journalism: the Who, What, Where and When. Given time, it can even respond to “Why” someone interfaces with digital information systems the way they do. It can do this because it is possible to discern patterns of behavior in metadata. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2014/01/13/nsas-preference-for-metadata/



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NSA’s Preference for Metadata (Original Post) marmar Jan 2014 OP
Four levels of approval are needed to view the metadata. I'm betting Wiebe didn't mention that. randome Jan 2014 #1
...which helps people stay within the 5 Stages Of Denial cprise Jan 2014 #2
Wiebe doesn't mention constitutional issues because, presumably, he knows there aren't any. randome Jan 2014 #3
Stage 2 n/t cprise Jan 2014 #7
K&R Corporate fascism. woo me with science Jan 2014 #4
shameless self-kick marmar Jan 2014 #5
K&R cprise Jan 2014 #6
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
1. Four levels of approval are needed to view the metadata. I'm betting Wiebe didn't mention that.
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 12:45 PM
Jan 2014

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"
[/center][/font][hr]

cprise

(8,445 posts)
2. ...which helps people stay within the 5 Stages Of Denial
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 01:13 PM
Jan 2014

In any case, four levels of bureaucrats do not an exception to the Constitution make.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
3. Wiebe doesn't mention constitutional issues because, presumably, he knows there aren't any.
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 01:18 PM
Jan 2014

Third-party business records and all that.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.
[/center][/font][hr]

woo me with science

(32,139 posts)
4. K&R Corporate fascism.
Mon Jan 13, 2014, 03:36 PM
Jan 2014

They are targeting Americans and fabricating evidence trails. They are targeting political enemies for surveillance. They are engaging in corporate espionage. They are engaging in sexual blackmail. They have created a mass surveillance machine in the United States of America, targeted at citizens, for the purpose of increasing their power and preventing resistance by those being exploited for profit. They sustain this machine through secret laws, secret courts, and politicians purchased with corporate money. The President of the United States has proclaimed that this surveillance machine cannot be challenged in the courts. A principled former President has warned that America "no longer has a functioning democracy."

This is the definition of a nation turning to fascism, the merging of corporatism and the authoritarian state.

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.

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