Watchdog Report Says N.S.A. Program Is Illegal and Should End
Source: New York Times
Watchdog Report Says N.S.A. Program Is Illegal and Should End
By CHARLIE SAVAGEJAN. 23, 2014
WASHINGTON An independent federal privacy watchdog has concluded that the National Security Agencys program to collect bulk phone call records has provided only minimal benefits in counterterrorism efforts, is illegal and should be shut down.
The findings are laid out in a 238-page report, scheduled for release by Thursday and obtained by The New York Times, that represent the first major public statement by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which Congress made an independent agency in 2007 and only recently became fully operational.
The report is likely to inject a significant new voice into the debate over surveillance, underscoring that the issue was not settled by a high-profile speech President Obama gave last week. Mr. Obama consulted with the board, along with a separate review group that last month delivered its own report about surveillance policies. But while he said in his speech that he was tightening access to the data and declared his intention to find a way to end government collection of the bulk records, he said the programs capabilities should be preserved.
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The program lacks a viable legal foundation under Section 215, implicates constitutional concerns under the First and Fourth Amendments, raises serious threats to privacy and civil liberties as a policy matter, and has shown only limited value, the report said. As a result, the board recommends that the government end the program.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/us/politics/watchdog-report-says-nsa-program-is-illegal-and-should-end.html?hp&_r=1
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)to be ignored or villified
Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 10:21 AM - Edit history (1)
Edward Snowden will be answering questions submitted by the public on his official support site, freesnowden.is, this Thursday 23 January at 8pm GMT, 3pm EST. (Today)
Link--
http://www.freesnowden.is/asksnowden/
MisterP
(23,730 posts)not like the clearsighted neolib centrists!
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)dude.
The content of the is TP, and all other indicators for it before too, was why I thought the idea from the neolib centrists that BHO's NSA couldn't be a bit astray legally speaking, was rather silly.
I think that went a long way towards showing the weakness of their hand on the matter from the beginning. Once that fell, they would then of course be in the rather untenable position of defending what is by consensus pov I'd think at this point -- that illegalities have occured.
It seems to me that the only leg BHO/the NSA have to stand on is that it was mistakes over interpretation of the law, in this case mostly Section 215 of the PA. They wouldn't have to go the full Bush defense of "I'm the decider during wartime" as I recall his was with bypassing the FISA court requirement in force at the time. That's a toughie to "interpret" around.
So I expect the "he's better than Bush" defense if it plays out that way. It'll be "a little overzealous interpretaion to keep us safe..." versus "willfully ignoring the clear and unmistable meaning and spirit" of the law...lol
MisterP
(23,730 posts)that sums it up quite nicely
thanks
Titonwan
(785 posts)Thanks Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, the Guardian (and to a lesser extent- the NYT's) and all the previous whistle blowers who have jerked away the curtain of illegal spying on American citizens.
That massive data base has only one true purpose- dossiers. OWS protestors, anti-war/poverty/green activists and anyone else who displays dissent most certainly have these permanent records to be used when ever they're a little too 'uppity'.
Remember those overnight and early morning raids on protesters at the RNC convention in 2007?
J. Edgar Hoover deserves to be unearthed and shot out of a trebuchet. Into a brick wall.
Clapper and Alexander deserve long prison sentences at a maximum security facility.