Author Topic: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies  (Read 1441 times)

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Offline ABX

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Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« on: June 07, 2013, 02:14:17 am »
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Analysts at the National Security Agency can now secretly access real-time user data provided by as many as 50 American companies, ranging from credit rating agencies to internet service providers, two government officials familiar with the arrangements said.

Several of the companies have provided records continuously since 2006, while others have given the agency sporadic access, these officials said. These officials disclosed the number of participating companies in order to provide context for a series of disclosures about the NSA's domestic collection policies. The officials, contacted independently, repeatedly said that "domestic collection" does not mean that the target is based in the U.S. or is a U.S. citizen; rather, it refers only to the origin of the data.

The Wall Street Journal reported today that U.S. credit card companies had also provided customer information. The officials would not disclose the names of the companies because, they said, doing so would provide U.S. enemies with a list of companies to avoid.

http://theweek.com/article/index/245311/sources-nsa-sucks-in-data-from-50-companies

famousdayandyear

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2013, 02:31:53 am »
Looks like NSA is in the crossfire from somewhere.  Wouldn't want to be S. Rice.  jus sayin ***evilkitty

Offline truth_seeker

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2013, 03:40:11 am »
These capabilities have been known for several years. And more.

But they are overwhelmed with mega-gazillions of data bits and bytes, but not enough judgment to heed a warning from Russia.
"God must love the common man, he made so many of them.�  Abe Lincoln

Offline Atomic Cow

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2013, 03:44:00 am »
The NSA must have p*ssed off someone @ either the CIA, DIA, or one of the other alphabet agencies.
"...And these atomic bombs which science burst upon the world that night were strange, even to the men who used them."  H. G. Wells, The World Set Free, 1914

"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections." -Lord Acton

Offline ABX

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2013, 03:46:52 am »
The NSA must have p*ssed off someone @ either the CIA, DIA, or one of the other alphabet agencies.

To be a fly on the wall in some of the top floors tomorrow. Do we have inter-agency rivalries with each trying to blow the whistle on each other? Do we have old school versus new school? Conservatives versus Liberals? There does seem to be an internal war going on...

....or it is all for show.

Offline ABX

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2013, 03:49:08 am »
...all for show has me thinking....

...never let a crisis go to waste....

...agencies out of control....

....Obama is from the government and he is here to help...

....recreate in his image....

Offline Atomic Cow

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2013, 03:49:18 am »
Well, the talking points went out.  On the front page of Yahoo, they have a headline:

"Here's Exactly Who to Blame in Congress for Authorizing Government Spying"

And of course, right next to it, is a picture of President Bush.

So now we know what the Obamaites will use to defend Dear Leader, "it's Bush's fault."
"...And these atomic bombs which science burst upon the world that night were strange, even to the men who used them."  H. G. Wells, The World Set Free, 1914

"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections." -Lord Acton

Offline Atomic Cow

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2013, 03:51:06 am »
...all for show has me thinking....

...never let a crisis go to waste....

...agencies out of control....

....Obama is from the government and he is here to help...

....recreate in his image....

Reminds me of a line from a movie about Huey P. Long.

Long is in all kinds of trouble and someone mentions that he has violated the state's constitution.  He becomes enraged and yells "I am the constitution!"
"...And these atomic bombs which science burst upon the world that night were strange, even to the men who used them."  H. G. Wells, The World Set Free, 1914

"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections." -Lord Acton

Offline massadvj

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2013, 11:56:22 am »
This really is old news. 

The text I use in teaching e-commerce details how the government siphons more than 95 percent of the data that goes through US-based ISPs.  They basically look for certain strings of data that might flag national security concerns.  The problem, of course, is that it could potentially be used to shut down political opposition or go on fishing expeditions against people who find themselves under suspicion.  I pose the question to my class; What is to prevent the government from sifting through e-mails in search of a marijuana sale, prostitution transaction, or any other illicit trade, and then going after the perpetrators?  Answer: nothing.  Only the government's good will.  The landscape of history is littered with the corpses of people who put heir faith in government good will.

But try telling that to a generation of kids who put their private lives on Facebook.  They seem to have no desire for privacy and have no idea how government access to their private information might be abused.

The federal government is right now engaging in a two-step.  Step one: get everyone addicted to communications technology to the point that it is indispensable to their lives.  Step two: use the technology to control them.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2013, 11:58:53 am by massadvj »

famousdayandyear

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Re: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2013, 01:49:25 pm »
This really is old news. 

The text I use in teaching e-commerce details how the government siphons more than 95 percent of the data that goes through US-based ISPs.  They basically look for certain strings of data that might flag national security concerns.  The problem, of course, is that it could potentially be used to shut down political opposition or go on fishing expeditions against people who find themselves under suspicion.  I pose the question to my class; What is to prevent the government from sifting through e-mails in search of a marijuana sale, prostitution transaction, or any other illicit trade, and then going after the perpetrators?  Answer: nothing.  Only the government's good will.  The landscape of history is littered with the corpses of people who put heir faith in government good will.

But try telling that to a generation of kids who put their private lives on Facebook.  They seem to have no desire for privacy and have no idea how government access to their private information might be abused.

The federal government is right now engaging in a two-step.  Step one: get everyone addicted to communications technology to the point that it is indispensable to their lives.  Step two: use the technology to control them.

Yes, this is old news to the technically savvy, or anyone who has worked in the telecommunications business.

But, it is NEW news to the low information voter.  Witness the addiction to Facebook, Google as you point out in your first step of the ultimate end game.