There are nine exemptions to the FOIA (that we know of)
My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
11–20 of 86 posts
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#12Doesn't a FOIA request have fees associated with it? Will the government just bill you for it when they provide documents?
> There is no initial fee required to submit a FOIA request, but the FOIA does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances. > For a typical requester the agency can charge for the time it takes to search for records and for duplication of those records. There is usually no charge for the first two hours of search time or for the first 100 pages of duplication. http://www.foia.gov/faq.html#cost
"You may request a waiver of fees. Under the FOIA fee waivers are limited to situations in which a requester can show that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester."
Sounds like that applies to most everyone to me!
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#13There are nine exemptions to the FOIA (that we know of) http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/foia/
And they are fairly broad
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#14Only Americans? Or can the rest of us yet to be proven not terrorists apply too?
You bring up a good point. It's common knowledge that most countries have laws about spying on their own citizens, but not citizens of other nations. Furthermore, global intelligence organizations freely share intelligence. They have been using this "loophole" to effectively spy on their own citizens by proxy. It seems that it's in the best interest of all citizens of the world to form some sort of treaty that says they want spy on each other without due process. It's seems pretty counter intuitive that my own government would encourage, and even assist another government to spy on me. Isn't the main purpose of the government, the reason that I let the government exist in the first place, to protect me from foreign threats. Certainly another country spying on me is a threat worth protecting from.
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#15Is this legit? It kind of feels like those old scam ads that would say, "Has your credit card number been stolen? Enter here to find out!".
Why, especially in the light of recent privacy concerns, would I just hand over my full name, address and phone number and allow someone I have no relationship with mail a legal document on my behalf?
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#16Could somebody explain the Motion to Quash who has an understanding of it? I thought it only applied to a subpoena, and so would not apply without one.
I don't have a full understanding of it, but I think a Motion to Quash basically asks the court to say "This information was collected illegally or outside the investigative scope, and you may not use it as evidence (and thus must destroy it)"
It seems like the distinction that the NSA is trying to make is that, it's not illegal to possess the data, only to look at it. That argument may even extend to automatic processes that aren't seen by human eyes, who knows. If you happen to get a warrant in the future, you'll be able to "travel back in time" to see all communications of the person in question. The most maddening part of all this is that no one outside the government is even allowed to know the rules.
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#17Is this legit? It kind of feels like those old scam ads that would say, "Has your credit card number been stolen? Enter here to find out!". Why, especially in the light of recent privacy concerns, would I just hand over my full name, address and phone number and allow someone I have no relationship with mail a legal document on my behalf?
Hello, creator of the Web site here. You can click through the contact page to find out more about me, but I've been fighting government invasion of privacy for several years now. I was the top story on HN for about 3 days last year when I posted a video of me beating TSA nude bdy scanners. I want nothing more than to send the NSA and FISA court a million requests for info! :)
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#18Could somebody explain the Motion to Quash who has an understanding of it? I thought it only applied to a subpoena, and so would not apply without one.
I don't have a full understanding of it, but I think a Motion to Quash basically asks the court to say "This information was collected illegally or outside the investigative scope, and you may not use it as evidence (and thus must destroy it)"
Exactly... to "quash" literally means to set aside. You're asking them to undo something they've done, which is typical for a subpoena that was incorrectly issued.
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#19Of course if they don't have a file on you, and you send them a FOIA request, they may open up a file on you just for the purposes of handling your request...
haha don't worry, they have a file on you ;)
Re: My NSA Records - Submit a FOIA Request or Motion to Quash
#20Only Americans? Or can the rest of us yet to be proven not terrorists apply too?
Although I'll only be mailing requests with US addresses, you can certainly take the form from the site and mail your own. I encourage it!