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FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

washingtonpost.com

41–50 of 151 posts

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#41

Wow whoever came up with the whole 'in the name of terrorism' is a goddamn genius. Pretty much a free card to get access to anything and everything for the sake of 'security'.

Using "terrorism" as a threat is simply the new "communism" arguments from the 1950s-1980s. It's just that this new era has no foreseeable end in site. There has been, and always will be, some type of terrorists. So its a perfect opportunity to use this threat (whether real in some cases and not in some cases) to get something approved that you could not normally. At least with the end of of the USSR, most of the old…

That's the thing. "Terrorism" like "communism" previously is described as threat where regular laws are not strong enough and here needs to be an exception. Communism went away but terrorism will most likely never go away.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#42
post #24

Is it just me or is the FBI a little out of control lately...

> lately… Lately?

Malcontents have been griping for over 50 years now ... e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doorbell_Rang

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#43
A couple decades ago when the government wanted to get civil forfeiture powers, they said it was only going to be for the worst organized crime bosses and drug lords.

Then within the last few years, a black kid who takes his life savings -- $10,000 cash -- and moves across the country to start a new life is (apparently entirely legally) relieved of it by two police officers and has no means to get it back, despite never being arrested nor charged with any crime.

History shows that it's impossible to trust the government's promise that they'll restrict any new capabilities to the worst bad guys.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#44

Wow whoever came up with the whole 'in the name of terrorism' is a goddamn genius. Pretty much a free card to get access to anything and everything for the sake of 'security'.

That would be the Bush administration.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#45
post #44

Wow whoever came up with the whole 'in the name of terrorism' is a goddamn genius. Pretty much a free card to get access to anything and everything for the sake of 'security'.

That would be the Bush administration.

You misspelled government.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#46

Wow whoever came up with the whole 'in the name of terrorism' is a goddamn genius. Pretty much a free card to get access to anything and everything for the sake of 'security'.

Using "terrorism" as a threat is simply the new "communism" arguments from the 1950s-1980s. It's just that this new era has no foreseeable end in site. There has been, and always will be, some type of terrorists. So its a perfect opportunity to use this threat (whether real in some cases and not in some cases) to get something approved that you could not normally. At least with the end of of the USSR, most of the old…

The part of the US government that does this bullshit has no endgame except "more power". It's quite ridiculous.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#47
post #28

Wow whoever came up with the whole 'in the name of terrorism' is a goddamn genius. Pretty much a free card to get access to anything and everything for the sake of 'security'.

"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." --Hermann Göring

Didn't know this quote. Just saved it into my quote-book.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#48
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using "terrorism" as a threat is simply the new "communism" arguments from the 1950s-1980s. It's just that this new era has no foreseeable end in site. There has been, and always will be, some type of terrorists. So its a perfect opportunity to use this threat (whether real in some cases and not in some cases) to get something approved that you could not normally. At least with the end of of the USSR, most of the old…

The part of the US government that does this bullshit has no endgame except "more power". It's quite ridiculous.

"the part", like it's just one part of the government....

News Flash: no organization will ever willingly give power.

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#49
post #15

Hey that's fine, no need for a warrant. You just have to let the judge know that you think that person is a terrorist. And also what reasons led you to think they're a terrorist. Oh, and also what it is you're looking for, and why you think you'll find it. So... basically a warrant.

Keep in mind that many judges are elected (even when they run unopposed). I can see the attack ad now: "Judge Soandso thinks that terrorists deserve a greater right to privacy than you do. Judge Soandso protects terrorists. Vote Judge Otherguy." Kinda turns this into a rubber stamp.

Eventually someone might figure out the right words to use to counteract that strategy.

"Judge Otherguy's tough-on-crime strategy led to a $1500 DUI charge for an innocent grandmother on SSI who was poisoned by her doctor. Vote Judge Soandso to protect the elderly."

Re: FBI wants access to browser history without a warrant in terrorism, spy cases

#50

"Terrorism/spy cases" is just the camel's nose under the tent. It wasn't even 2 years after the 2001 PATRIOT act that the DOJ was using the provisions for drug cases. A probably non-exhaustive list is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversial_invocations_of_t...

"We're only asking to put the sleeve of your shirt in the wood chipper"
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