Spying Continues: First Terrorists, Now You and I
A big flashpoint over the past few weeks has been this business about the National Security Agency spying on American citizens, etc. Take my initial entry on the subject from Decmeber 19th where some of the pro-spying commenters made comments such as:
Perhaps that’s the paranoid side of me, but to just toss that idea out that “Bush†would seek out your information because you downloaded Google Earth (which I’ve had for awhile LOL) it preposterous. Simply because I think George Bush could find other things more important and revealing than whether or not you like looking at satellite shots of Jamaican beaches LOL.
And…
The idea that NSA was eavesdropping on phone calls from suspected terrorists in an effort to prevent another attack on our country doesn’t keep me awake at night.
The presumptive argument around the web is inline with, “If I’m not involved in terrorism, I have nothing to worry about,” and, “They are only spying on terrorist suspects.”
My argument is “Who says?” I cannot simply trust the government to do what is right. If it was just terrorism then I could go along with that. But there is nothing that prevents other assumptions of power at the advice of clever lawyers who know exactly how to creatively read law. That is what scares me.
As a sidenote, and getting away from my point, we are told that this (the war on terror) will be a long war that will go on for years and maybe decades. It might never end. It’s a slippery slope when you start granting “temporary war fighting powers” for a war that may not end for a very long time. Caesar crossed the Rubicon and shortly thereafter, the Republic became an Empire… Remember that!
On to the Point!
For everyone out there that insists that the government has only the most angelic of intentions in mind when spying, take this doozy of a story where Google is the subject of legal action by the Feds to gain access to all internet searches through Google in a one week time period. Any one week time period that they arbitrarily choose. From the London Times…
The Bush Administration has asked a federal judge to order the world’s most popular internet search engine to hand over the records of all Google searches for any one-week period, as well as other closely guarded data. The California-based company is to fight the move.
The immediate flashpoint is the Government’s effort to revive an online child pornography law that was struck down by the Supreme Court two years ago.
Again, just like terrorism, I don’t want child porn offenders on the internet either. But it’s funny how this information aggregation on citizens continues to march on. Understand that every single Google search in a one week period of time will be seen. That isn’t just child porn offenders. That’s you and me. How many Google searches do you do in a week? a day? an hour”?
What’s next? Determining how many gallons of gas I put in my car when I fill up?
Let me re-quote one of my earlier commenters thoughts.
Perhaps that’s the paranoid side of me, but to just toss that idea out that “Bush†would seek out your information because you downloaded Google Earth (which I’ve had for awhile LOL) it preposterous.
Yes indeed. They just might.
Hat Tip: Rob
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Written by Aaron Brazell on January 20, 2006
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I think, for our case to be made, it’s not enough to show the government is collecting this information. It’s (sadly) not even enough to explain they have no jurisdiction over such parts of our lives.
No, the only way to make most Americans care these days is to scare them. We have to explain how such information could be used maliciously, and how that cost is greater than the supposed benefit (less terrorism).
I think, for our case to be made, it’s not enough to show the government is collecting this information. It’s (sadly) not even enough to explain they have no jurisdiction over such parts of our lives.
No, the only way to make most Americans care these days is to scare them. We have to explain how such information could be used maliciously, and how that cost is greater than the supposed benefit (less terrorism).
Write an entry! It’s Open Mic Friday. ;)
Write an entry! It’s Open Mic Friday. ;)
LOL!
Okay, okay… maybe. (It’s much easier to identify a problem than it is to suggest solutions!)
LOL!
Okay, okay… maybe. (It’s much easier to identify a problem than it is to suggest solutions!)
Especially when you write entries for 5 blogs! :)
Especially when you write entries for 5 blogs! :)
Which reminds me — can I write something on open-mike Friday, but post-date it? ;)
Which reminds me — can I write something on open-mike Friday, but post-date it? ;)
Only if you post date it for another Friday. ;)
Only if you post date it for another Friday. ;)
Hey Aaron,
I think this is important enough that I wrote a post about it today on my Blog and put it on my WAH Webpage.
I hope Bloggers and Webmasters alike write enough about the intrusion on our privacy that the Traditional Media gets in on the act.
Only if we put a stop to it now, will we have the freedom of speach (Bush’s signing the anti-comment law last week) and privacy guaranteed by law.
Sorry for the Rant, but that’s how I feel.
Joe
Hey Aaron,
I think this is important enough that I wrote a post about it today on my Blog and put it on my WAH Webpage.
I hope Bloggers and Webmasters alike write enough about the intrusion on our privacy that the Traditional Media gets in on the act.
Only if we put a stop to it now, will we have the freedom of speach (Bush’s signing the anti-comment law last week) and privacy guaranteed by law.
Sorry for the Rant, but that’s how I feel.
Joe
I for one always subscribe to the notion that “To fear your government” is a healthy perspective. Saying that, I do not ever think that just because the Government has the ability to do something, that they do so with “Angelic” notions or motivations.
Please… all people in the government are human, and therefore flawed by nature. Everyone has the potential to be abusive and corrupted. Especially when they work to attain power and wealth.
Saying that, I will add that the NSA has had the capabilities to “listen in” on whatever they wanted to since the agency was created. Where were you when that outfit started? And when was the last time we’ve heard anything negative about the NSA before this “domestic spying” business came to light?
I’m not going to argue about policy here, but, I will say that as far as Bush, and his Administration going after Google, they don’t have any business sticking their nose into a piece of software to dig up potential criminal activity. That kind of action is reckless and takes us down a slippery slope into a socialist society, not a land of freedom, liberty, and opportunity.
I for one always subscribe to the notion that “To fear your government” is a healthy perspective. Saying that, I do not ever think that just because the Government has the ability to do something, that they do so with “Angelic” notions or motivations.
Please… all people in the government are human, and therefore flawed by nature. Everyone has the potential to be abusive and corrupted. Especially when they work to attain power and wealth.
Saying that, I will add that the NSA has had the capabilities to “listen in” on whatever they wanted to since the agency was created. Where were you when that outfit started? And when was the last time we’ve heard anything negative about the NSA before this “domestic spying” business came to light?
I’m not going to argue about policy here, but, I will say that as far as Bush, and his Administration going after Google, they don’t have any business sticking their nose into a piece of software to dig up potential criminal activity. That kind of action is reckless and takes us down a slippery slope into a socialist society, not a land of freedom, liberty, and opportunity.
Travis, you completely miss the point. It has nothing to do with what NSA is capable of doing. It’s what they are doing and whether they are legally allowed to do it and whether it infringes on the assumed right to privacy.
Travis, you completely miss the point. It has nothing to do with what NSA is capable of doing. It’s what they are doing and whether they are legally allowed to do it and whether it infringes on the assumed right to privacy.
Hey now, that wasn’t me! ;)
Hey now, that wasn’t me! ;)
Doh! You’re right. Gmail screwed me up! :) I meant, David…
Doh! You’re right. Gmail screwed me up! :) I meant, David…
Gosh.. The Bigboss was, is and will always be watching you. It\’s all about national security. I don\’t mind the government tapping my telephone as long as they are using it for the country\’s safe-guarding.
Gosh.. The Bigboss was, is and will always be watching you. It’s all about national security. I don’t mind the government tapping my telephone as long as they are using it for the country’s safe-guarding.