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Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

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Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#231
post #135

This is FISA right? The target is foreign individuals and entities? It seems by default HN is against it, can someone articulate why? There are elected representatives of the people providing oversight and it seems to have strong bipartisan support. Is there a popular line of thought with tech people that is suggesting foreign surveillance isn't neccesary? Or should some provision of the law be updated to protect ame…

There's so much information online on why and how FISA is bad, this is honestly hard to take as a serious question asked in good faith. But assuming that it is, start with the Wikipedia article for FISA and go from there; it has plenty food for thought, and links to more.

This the only relevant paragraph under the criticism section of the wiki page:

> The ACLU considers the FISA Act to be unconstitutional for several reasons including: the law was designed to mainly address terrorism threats, but in fact intercepts communications that have nothing to do with terrorism or criminal activity of any kind; and that "the government can create huge databases that contain information about U.S. persons obtained without warrants and then search these databases at a later point."

As I understand, these databases are only created if the other party is foreign, is that not the case?

I asked in earnest but you made this about my intent instead of articulating your views. My conclusion so far is that the HN crowd is jumping on the bandwagon and can't take any critique of the popular sentiment.

I have much critique of the patriot act and other provisions but FISA itself has been around since 1978 apparently. I was merely trying to figure out what specifically were the opposing views because in general, foreign surveillance is not optional.

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#232
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

horseshoe theory. D+R are not so different. D in US is more right than other countries' left leaning parties

> D in US is more right than other countries' left leaning parties I don't think this is accurate. Maybe on healthcare and welfare, sure. But on many social issues, the Democrats are much further to the left than the European left. On issues such as abortion, gender/sexuality, migration, and race, the Democrats are more extreme compared to Labour in the UK, SPD in Germany, and the PSOE in Spain. Even the left in Fran…

Many politicians just like social issues because they can win supporters without doing anything aside giving empty promises or arbitrary gestures.

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#233
post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's so much information online on why and how FISA is bad, this is honestly hard to take as a serious question asked in good faith. But assuming that it is, start with the Wikipedia article for FISA and go from there; it has plenty food for thought, and links to more.

This the only relevant paragraph under the criticism section of the wiki page: > The ACLU considers the FISA Act to be unconstitutional for several reasons including: the law was designed to mainly address terrorism threats, but in fact intercepts communications that have nothing to do with terrorism or criminal activity of any kind; and that "the government can create huge databases that contain information about U.…

This is not just about FISA but about all the amendments that have been tacked onto it since then. The criticism of those amendments is covered in the corresponding section in the Wikipedia article.

All this stuff has been around for literally decades at this point, and at some point people just get tired rehashing the same old stuff to every new person coming in and asking, "what's wrong with that?".

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guarantee you that whichever points you think are "common sense" on this list, there's millions of people in this country who will disagree with you on every single one of them.

There are also millions of people who think that Earth's flat.

So then be more specific: whose "common sense" do you have in mind?

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are also millions of people who think that Earth's flat.

So then be more specific: whose "common sense" do you have in mind?

People who are professionals in international relations, monetary policy, administering a country and other areas that these statements relate to.

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#236
post #40

Does anyone want to suggest some reasons why, the one thing that D+R always, always, always agree on is this: US Gov/LEO/IC must be gifted the most power possible to surveil Americans who are not suspected of a crime

“Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you,” Schumer told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/312605-schumer-t...

One way some people suggest is at least one of the 3-letter intelligence communities will send/drop CP on their computer or phone if that congressmen doesn’t vote their way. If that’s even partially true, then it makes them more powerful than all of the elected bodies.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ThIfbGXWTxBITTsj18aBw

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#237

Once upon a time, this would have been the only thing the internet talked about today. Top of reddit, thousands of comments on news articles, etc. Now we get suppression and astroturfing from a bunch of autocrats who despise democracy and call themselves the "Intelligence Community."

It was noticeable how hard the topic felt suppressed, even on hn somehow

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would imagine because the IC already uses those same surveillance powers to get dirt on enough politicians to make sure this happens.

They had to add a rule about not using it to spy on Congress. That tells you all you need to know about how often fisa is abused.

This may turn out to be the most true thing ever uttered on the internet.

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#239
post #189

It amazes me how we can pick and choose which part of the Bill of Rights we want to abate, while all of it is being obscured into history. We were united around the Bill of Rights, now we've been brainwashed into believing no one should have rights. 1A, Nope, you have to have facts, and specific facts, and a subject-matter expert, source? 2A, Ban all guns, the government will protect us. 3A, No worry, they're not sol…

I can relate to your opinions. Still, I’m going to mentions this: please, vote. Otherwise you are a part of the problem.

Elections are for show. D&R officials pick the winners. So much have been revealed in the courts. Vote 3rd party or this will continue.

Re: Senate passes reauthorization of key US surveillance program after midnight

#240
post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"pro life" is a pretty hard (and exploitive) line separating the two

Keep paying attention to that while they borrow $2T a year and give it to their friends.

That's the rub, I'm afraid. The uniparty looks out for itself while enriching its kindred.
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