16 US Government Agencies (FBI, DEA, DHS, ICE...) Now Have Access To Unminimized Domestic NSA Collections

It's Official: Sixteen Government Agencies Now Have Access To Unminimized Domestic NSA Collections from the Security-Thru-Advanced-Situational-Intelligence dept

The NSA can now be used for second-hand domestic surveillance, thanks to new rules approved by President Obama that went into effect on January 3rd. Those unhappy to see Trump in control of these expanded powers have no one to thank but their outgoing president for this parting gift.

This was first reported early last year, gathered from anonymous intelligence community sources and the now-useless PCLOB's report on the FBI's use of unminimized intelligence passed on to it by the NSA. At that point, it was mostly speculation, with the PCLOB's report being the only thing in the way of factual information. The administration was confirmed to be working towards loosening restrictions on data sharing, even as the FBI was swearing it was tightening up control of its own use of unminimized data.

As the New York Times reports, this change in rules on data-sharing is now in place, as confirmed by a declassified copy of the new procedures [PDF] released to the paper.

The new rules significantly relax longstanding limits on what the N.S.A. may do with the information gathered by its most powerful surveillance operations, which are largely unregulated by American wiretapping laws. These include collecting satellite transmissions, phone calls and emails that cross network switches abroad, and messages between people abroad that cross domestic network switches.

The perceived benefit of this relaxation of the rules is this: government agencies will no longer have to worry about being siloed off from possibly relevant info by restrictions on unminimized collections. The downside is, well... everything else.

Previously, the N.S.A. filtered information before sharing intercepted communications with another agency, like the C.I.A. or the intelligence branches of the F.B.I. and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The N.S.A.'s analysts passed on only information they deemed pertinent, screening out the identities of innocent people and irrelevant personal information.

Now, other intelligence agencies will be able to search directly through raw repositories of communications intercepted by the N.S.A. and then apply such rules for "minimizing" privacy intrusions.

There are sixteen(!) government agencies being made equal partners in the NSA's full-take surveillance programs. Rather than place the agency that hoovers up the signals intelligence in charge of ensuring the privacy of US citizens is protected, the administration is letting multiple agencies with different agendas and rulesets have access to the data first, with any minimization being left up to each agency's individual policies.

The NSA still retains the option to deny an agency's request to an unminimized "feed" of incoming collections, but it's likely denials will be few and far between -- what with the Wars on Terror/Drugs still ongoing and showing no signs of wrapping up anytime soon. Anything deemed to be tangentially-related to national security will likely receive the NSA's blessing... because doing otherwise would be incredibly hypocritical. The "national security" mantra has been deployed to excuse its worst excesses. Far be it from the NSA to deny the national security "needs" of other agencies similarly situated.

This was pretty much confirmed by ODNI's counsel Bob Litt's attempt to defuse the situation when it first came to light last spring. His painful editorial at Just Security said this was all no big deal. After all, the new rules didn't provide for more domestic surveillance than the government was already performing. It just allowed more agencies to look at what was already being collected and do with it what they wanted. SHRUG.

As for the FBI, which has been a longtime partner in the NSA's surveillance haul, its new internal rules are no longer relevant, seeing as the administration has given its blessing to go ahead and use supposedly foreign-facing intelligence programs for domestic law enforcement activity. While the FBI was supposed to restrict its use of the data haul for counter-terrorist investigations, the FBI was able to turn over anything it found related to normal criminal activity to the DOJ. So, even prior to the official relaxation, the FBI was acting as a conduit between the NSA and other law enforcement agencies.

All of this means the NSA is now officially a domestic surveillance agency, even if a majority of its exploration of Americans' data/communications is being done by proxy.

There are some insightful comments in the discussion at https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/5nkujj/breaking_obama_admin_permits_nsa_to_give_raw/


Comments


[31 Points] Thoughtsofamaniac:

Been saying for a while, Obama is a cunt. I really, truly don't understand why so many people, especially on the internet, practically suck his cock in terms of fawning over him. He has done more to erode our liberties and freedoms with his "national security" apparatus than any president in the last 40 years, even moreso than Bush with his fucked up Patriot Act. Of course, Obama and his mindless chronies always seem to pass the blame to Bush, since he got many of the wiretapping programs etc. started. But Obama is the one who passed the NDAA, ramped up the militarization of police, signed off on domestic use of drones for gathering information, gave the NSA even more surveillance capacity and now has extended the surveillance state to include the FBI and other domestic agencies, including the DEA.

FUCK OBAMA


[15 Points] I5uEQKrv4u5KR3fb7yyC:

fuck obama, stop giving me reasons to hate you

As for the FBI, which has been a longtime partner in the NSA's surveillance haul, its new internal rules are no longer relevant, seeing as the administration has given its blessing to go ahead and use supposedly foreign-facing intelligence programs for domestic law enforcement activity

this is actually fucked, citizens are about to see the same surveilence as terrorists.


[11 Points] DabbyRosin:

Fuck obama


[7 Points] DiaperDankFrank11:

Just goes to show you regardless which puppet is in the oval office there will be continued loss of personal liberties, an ever expanding surveillance state, and a worse and worse police state.


[6 Points] fatttyjawn99:

This took quite the negative turn...

OSPEC has never been more vital.


[3 Points] None:

While i still remain in strong belief as an american, this is the best place to be, its getting harder and harder to intrinsically feel this way.


[3 Points] magicthrowaway12312:

Obama is a fucking douche.

USA is still the best house on a bad block but Obama has done his best to erode that at every chance.


[2 Points] colesaw:

What the fuck is going on in the USA, where is the worlds greatest democracy, when the whole world is watching there is nothing to show for it?


[2 Points] seasport100:

Like they didn't already .


[2 Points] Jimmybutler97:

Guys Obama just takes orders and so will Trump or he will get the Kennedy treatment, it's still possible Marital Law goes in effect before Trump gets in office for whatever reason I personally believe there will be another staged terrorist attack if not worse than 9/11, or of course WAR! NATO just moved more troops to Russia's border, things can happen in a blink of an eye.


[1 Points] RookieMafia:

FUCK it just keeps getting worse


[1 Points] None:

😳😳


[1 Points] Blurry_bars:

fuck obama in his pussy


[1 Points] Tezdoll:

You pretty much need to give up all technology to be safe... I'm almost there.


[1 Points] TheAlmightyGawd:

Yup yup, and under a Trump administration be prepared for a hammerdown operation against DNMs in the future, possibly sooner rather than later.

The legitimate BTC market would benefit from a market being seized as the BTC would be removed from circulation.

The legit trading market is looking better every day.


[1 Points] n3wbi3toBTC:

What sould be the benefit of the US becoming a police state


[1 Points] MollieIsYourFriend:

Well If the DEA... DHS or ICE want to watch me touch my wiener on my laptop as well, then they can just join the party..


[1 Points] looons:

united states "citizens" , please wake the fuck up. this experiment that is called the THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INC. which is anything government or state from the agencies at the top to the departments and offices at the bottom. any title business corporation. with their officers agents and other such law enforcement thugs. the umbrella of authority is an illusion its better than illusion its magic and spells. and it will only continue if you keep believing that anyone let alone anything, has the right to claim authority over you. you each and every one of you creates, better put manifest your own reality. once you realize and then help others realize that single truth. the illusion of authority is broken. it is the only thing that separates the masses from the so called leaders they know the simple truth. that we each and every single living breathing conscious being of us has the power and ability to bring forth into being their wildest imaginations in life.


[1 Points] None:

" Security-Thru-Advanced-Situational-Intelligence" = STASI

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi