Live data from Hacker News

Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

nbcsandiego.com

81–90 of 191 posts

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#82
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans are far more of a national security threat than foreign governments. It is far more likely that they will replace the government than it is that a foreign power would. We will only have good national security when the government is as resistant to Americans as it is to Putin.

I don’t know what you mean. Americans are the ones who should decide the government. Not sure I see that as a threat. We have mechanisms to deal with internal threats without having to impose sanctions or go to war. If you’re talking about PACs and vested interests, we at least, if we wanted it enough, could make changes but enough people are okay with them so there is no pressure to make radical change.

Americans are the ones that are supposed to decide the government, that's why they're the biggest threat to any present government (and all future governments). On any politician's list of threats to their position Americans are at the top, and foreign governments are far behind. Unless they're a saint, securing against foreign governments is an afterthought next to securing against their constituents.

There are no term limits for parties, so the collective interests are even more anti-citizen than the individual interests.

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#83
post #8

Not only tracking them, but putting flags on their passports and interrogating them at the border: “They asked about the new caravan and if word had gotten out about how difficult it is to seek asylum in the U.S.,” Drehsler said. “Then before I left, the female agent asked if I rented or owned my home.” This sounds much more like a political intimidation operation than serving a national security purpose.

It's terrifying. Free speech should not be infringed upon. This is obviously happening more and more. High profile cases like journalists and activists caught up in association with Snowden, like Greenwald, Poitras and Lavabit's founder... Are probably known to most here. But I wonder if most are aware even a journalist covering the dakota pipeline protests was detained by the US government(1). 1- https://www.nytimes…

Terrible indeed, I didn't know of this case, thanks for sharing. Regarding the caravan case you can at least try to bury it under international politics/border security. But to detain a journalist that has been covering Dakota pipeline is restricting the freedom of speech for pure economical reasons.

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#84
post #10

As a European, this is something that could very well make my government resign because it would be illegal. Like, crazy illegal. Is this legal in the US or is the current US administration in hot water?

I am European too (French) and having "secret" database/file of journalist is happening without and outcry about it.

There is at least one journalist who has the infamous "Fiche S". This one is not illegal, but contain basically whatever the police want to put on it, which can be a stretch from reality. The deletion of the fiche was also refused [0].

Then we got at least one journalist who had, illegally this time, a file by the military [1]. Even though the file is illegal, she was refused access to it.

And then, even for basic citizen, there is police files (STIC), which can contain whatever the police wants to put on it and has been leaked several time, for example, to employer like Ikea [2]. It also happened to famous people to have their file leak [3].

Has European, we like to think we do much better than the US when it comes to abusive surveillance, but the reality is we basically kind of do the same.

[0] https://twitter.com/GaspardGlanz/status/1101150475787866112

[1] https://lesjours.fr/obsessions/vie-jours/ep47-camille-pollon...

[2] https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/secrets-d-info/secrets-...

[3] https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/fiches-police-johnny-jamel-div...

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#85
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t know what you mean. Americans are the ones who should decide the government. Not sure I see that as a threat. We have mechanisms to deal with internal threats without having to impose sanctions or go to war. If you’re talking about PACs and vested interests, we at least, if we wanted it enough, could make changes but enough people are okay with them so there is no pressure to make radical change.

Americans are the ones that are supposed to decide the government, that's why they're the biggest threat to any present government (and all future governments). On any politician's list of threats to their position Americans are at the top, and foreign governments are far behind. Unless they're a saint, securing against foreign governments is an afterthought next to securing against their constituents. There are no t…

That’s not a “threat”, that’s how representative democratic governments work in most places. A threat is an upending of the usual mechanisms.

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#86
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except the wide open southern border is an easy point of insertion for Daesh and AQ operatives. Therefore, it can be claimed as warzone under the AUMF. Next question.

That’s the policy position of the government, and it’s an insane, not credible position. It’s a position born of ignorance and bigotry. I know many people who were impacted by 9/11. The people responsible were posing as businessmen with normal visas. It disgusts me that our policy is to chase boogeymen and do harm to people and to the nation in pursuit of cheap applause. End of the day, the consequence of the stupid…

For the record, I agree with you. I'm personally opposed to this line of thought, I'm just devil's advocating what the executive branch and legislature has and will argue.

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#88
post #66
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Except the wide open southern border is an easy point of insertion for Daesh and AQ operatives. > Therefore, it can be claimed as warzone under the AUMF. How delightfully convenient and simultaneously nonsensical. If you are going to be that overly simplistic and reductionist (and willfully ignorant) about what is happening and why then you may as well just come out in support of all-out martial law and start setti…

It's the same answer used by Mr Holder and Mr Obama to justify dropping hellfire missiles in a dozen countries.

This is argumentum ad verecundiam, an appeal to authority (a logical fallacy that in no way backs up what you are saying), and not a very good one.

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#89
post #29
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the standard wartime playbook for restricting freedom. It's completely incompatible with functioning democracy.

The United States in still engaged in 2 declared wars. One of which has it's theater defined as "wherever al-qeada and it's associates are" (paraphrase). So what's wrong with the wartime playbook? We're at war.

> So what's wrong with the wartime playbook? We're at war.

You're always at war.

Re: Leaked Documents Show the U.S. Tracking Journalists Through a Secret Database

#90
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Americans are the ones that are supposed to decide the government, that's why they're the biggest threat to any present government (and all future governments). On any politician's list of threats to their position Americans are at the top, and foreign governments are far behind. Unless they're a saint, securing against foreign governments is an afterthought next to securing against their constituents. There are no t…

That’s not a “threat”, that’s how representative democratic governments work in most places. A threat is an upending of the usual mechanisms.

Right, but any given mechanism (gerrymandering for example) is vastly more likely to be upended by Americans than it would be to be upended by foreign powers. From the perspective of the mechanism, Americans are the biggest threat, to the point where none of the others really matter. That's why policymakers are working so hard to undermine the public's authority.
Post reply on HN