NSA Data: Will they give up collection?

[bradly1101]

The current debate is whether the NSA should collect our records or have them kept at the provider where the NSA would only have access with a judges order.

That sounds good to me (they had the data anyway), but there seems to be at least two major problems with that:

1) The providers would have to dramatically increase data storage capacity.

2) I don't think the NSA is going to let their new data center in Utah just go to waste (http://nsa.gov1.info/utah-data-center/).

I remember the ramp-up to the Iraq war. We moved all those assets there at the same time we were giving Hussein 'outs'. He seemed to meet them all (through inspections) yet war began. It was inevitable.

The NSA is not going create all these assets and not use them. I know they can use them for foreign data, but the technology companies are giving the administration an earful on that too.

In hearings the NSA apparently hasn't been able to prove that the vacuuming of records prevented any attacks (despite their previous assertions that "fifty" were prevented - if you're going to make up a number say "fifty-three" or something; it's more believable).

 

[KB]

The NSA will give up collecting data when we close guantanamo bay.....meaning never.
Too many of the people that actually run this country (people with money) are making lots of money storing, supporting or developing systems to collect the data. Edward Snowden read the documents and he said "These programs were never about terrorism: they’re about economic spying, social control, and diplomatic manipulation. They’re about power." No leader just gives up power, they only seem to amass more.

 

[gevorg]

The NSA will give up collecting data when we close guantanamo bay.....meaning never.
Too many of the people that actually run this country (people with money) are making lots of money storing, supporting or developing systems to collect the data. Edward Snowden read the documents and he said "These programs were never about terrorism: they’re about economic spying, social control, and diplomatic manipulation. They’re about power." No leader just gives up power, they only seem to amass more.

Yep!

 

[momeNt]

The current debate is whether the NSA should collect our records or have them kept at the provider where the NSA would only have access with a judges order.

That sounds good to me (they had the data anyway), but there seems to be at least two major problems with that:

1) The providers would have to dramatically increase data storage capacity.

2) I don't think the NSA is going to let their new data center in Utah just go to waste (http://nsa.gov1.info/utah-data-center/).

I remember the ramp-up to the Iraq war. We moved all those assets there at the same time we were giving Hussein 'outs'. He seemed to meet them all (through inspections) yet war began. It was inevitable.

The NSA is not going create all these assets and not use them. I know they can use them for foreign data, but the technology companies are giving the administration an earful on that too.

In hearings the NSA apparently hasn't been able to prove that the vacuuming of records prevented any attacks (despite their previous assertions that "fifty" were prevented - if you're going to make up a number say "fifty-three" or something; it's more believable).

The government is just out of line with signage like that at a government facility. Sadly I believe slogans like this will actually become popular in a few years.

 

[bradly1101]

And thus began the "Surveillance State". Orwell just had the date wrong.

 

[irishScott]

They will. Once things get a lot worse and the average joe is actually affected enough to start voting.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The government is just out of line with signage like that at a government facility. Sadly I believe slogans like this will actually become popular in a few years.

Pretty sure that picture is photoshopped. It's not an actual NSA page, it's some random website with a .info extension.

 

[Kadarin]

The NSA will give up collecting data when we close guantanamo bay.....meaning never.
Too many of the people that actually run this country (people with money) are making lots of money storing, supporting or developing systems to collect the data. Edward Snowden read the documents and he said "These programs were never about terrorism: they’re about economic spying, social control, and diplomatic manipulation. They’re about power." No leader just gives up power, they only seem to amass more.

It's also about manipulation of the political process here in the US. If we have a populist candidate who's not in line with the Statist power structure, you can be absolutely sure NSA data will be used to bury the guy and ensure he (or she) will never be elected.

 

[sandorski]

It will need a full defunding and disbandment to fix it. Sell its' assets, move legit activities to other agencies.

 

[Triumph]

Pretty sure that picture is photoshopped. It's not an actual NSA page, it's some random website with a .info extension.

I admit I almost fell for it, on first glance the URL looks officialistic. Thank god it's not real (although I'm sure it's real in the sense that is what the NSA thinks).

 

[Anarchist420]

one thing that makes the NSA so fuckin infuriating is that the govt either did this "terrorism" directly (e.g., Op 9/11) or goes around doing all of these sting ops where they bust people who are too dumb to do any damage on their own.

 

[destey]

If they do say it has ended, that will be just a smokescreen.

Says NSA is using prism to read/change bank account amounts http://www.infowars.com/government-using-nsa-to-change-amount-in-bank-accounts-warns-panel/

Also said govt is stealing private industry secrets. Wouldn't surprise me if govt officials are stealing secretes and selling them to competing companies. After the IRS scandal, I wouldn't put anything past corrupt govt officials.

 

[ch33zw1z]

No. Never.

 

[SaurusX]

They may say that they've stopped, but they never will.

 

[momeNt]

Who should we look to for help? China? Russia? Who is willing to protect US citizens?

 

[First]

I certainly hope so, and am optimistic that private IT interests can pressure Obama to do the right thing. But I may be holding out too much hope there. No executive truly gives away their power, but maybe a significant reform of the NSA and some common sense legislation can get passed.

 

[werepossum]

I certainly hope so, and am optimistic that private IT interests can pressure Obama to do the right thing. But I may be holding out too much hope there. No executive truly gives away their power, but maybe a significant reform of the NSA and some common sense legislation can get passed.

Even if Obama was somehow pressured to do the right thing, I suspect that the NSA would merely make a lot of commotion while continuing to carry on business as normal until Hillary takes office. Or Bush III.