NSA Makes Metadata (Including Info On Americans) Available To Domestic Law Enforcement (including DEA) Via 'Google-Like' Search

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140825/11364228314/nsa-makes-metadata-searches-including-info-americans-available-to-domestic-law-enforcement-via-google-like-search.shtml

Notice that such metadata may already include package tracing. If it yet doesn't, it's prudent to assume it eventually will. I doubt such information is currently actionable but in high-volume cases, but I doubt it's being deleted. Make of that what you will.


Comments


[14 Points] None:

God bless America.


[5 Points] earthmoonsun:

I guess in 15 years the ability that our government knows anything about anyone will either be normal or there will be a perfect anonymous internet, maybe something like what maidsafe plans to do.


[3 Points] sharpshooter789:

Here's the original article. It much more thorough.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/08/25/icreach-nsa-cia-secret-google-crisscross-proton/


[3 Points] None:

There was an episode on radiolab recently that touched on this - "Neither Confirm nor Deny."

The FOIA makes it so anyone is supposed to be permitted to see a copy of what the NSA has stores, however many people who attempts to get a copy of it is met with a letter saying that they 'can neither confirm not deny the presence of such records, but if they do exist, they would be classified and not able to be disclosed.' (It's called a "Glomar response" - the original use of this loophole surrounded a submarine accident; 'Global Marine' was the company that built the explorer that caused the entire incident.)

I'm a foreign national living in the USA, the daughter of rather vocal activists, and due to my job, travel internationally pretty frequently. (I'm actually in Europe right now.) I would assume they have at least some information stored on me. When I listened to that episode, I did exactly what the journalist did: request a copy of my own metadata. It's only been about two weeks, so I haven't gotten anything in return, but I check my mail as obsessively as I would if expecting a package from DNM. The journalist got a Glomar response when requesting his info, when he has no "interesting" history himself beyond being a journalist. This makes me assume I will as well. Either way, I'm excited to find out. If they do release it, it will be fascinating to find out what's there, but I don't have my hopes up.

If anyone is interested in obtaining their own NSA metadata - shoot me a PM and I will forward you instructions on doing so. I think it's one thing for people to get upset about the facts in this article, but I believe it's far, far more productive to look further and find out exactly what is there instead of just speculating.


[2 Points] darknetsolutions:

I doubt such information is currently actionable but in high-volume cases

Check out the articles coverage of Parallel Construction and the link - https://www.techdirt.com/blog/?tag=parallel+construction


[1 Points] gerundive:

People spying on people spying on people spying on people is the new growth industry.


[1 Points] sma92176us:

Thought crimes... Minority Report style shit. The governments of the world need to not spy on their own people. People should be able to dissent or learn about forbidden knowledge in the safety of their own homes and lives.


[1 Points] thebigirishfella:

i cant login in at evo, agora and all of drugs market at Tor today, look like NSA has got it by blocking users from loggining ther. FUCK! any1 else has the same problem??