NationStates Jolt Archive


Is the infamous government wiretapping program still ongoing

Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 03:26
What is the status of the infamous "wiretapping" that had been going full force during the Bush administration? Is that little AT&T nexus room in San Francisco still recording every email and communication going in and out? You havnt heard Obama say anything one way or the other about them. This makes me curious to wonder, is this too much information for the government to give up willingly once they already have their paws on it or has the clearly illegal program been discontinued under Obama?
The One Eyed Weasel
22-05-2009, 03:28
Of course it's still there but they just don't talk about it because they know the public has an amazingly short attention span and they've pretty much forgotten about it.
greed and death
22-05-2009, 03:31
If Obama says it is needed for security I am willing to let it slide.
Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 03:34
If Obama says it is needed for security I am willing to let it slide.

i could be wrong but as far as i know nothing has been said one way or the other. For something that was as big as it was its odd that it doesnt seem to have been brought up.

If it is ongoing its no more acceptable under Obama then it was under Bush.
Wilgrove
22-05-2009, 03:38
If Obama says it is needed for security I am willing to let it slide.

If it is ongoing its no more acceptable under Obama then it was under Bush.

^^ This is my response to g&d post.
greed and death
22-05-2009, 03:49
^^ This is my response to g&d post.

I gave bush the same leeway too.
I find ti rather poor form to challenge the president on security issues.
Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 03:57
I gave bush the same leeway too.
I find ti rather poor form to challenge the president on security issues.

I find it rather poor form for Presidents to shred The Constitution.
greed and death
22-05-2009, 04:00
I find it rather poor form for Presidents to shred The Constitution.

Its a Grey area they are not using the evidence in court, they are using it to prevent terrorist attacks.
If they don't use it to prosecute I can let it slide.
Andaluciae
22-05-2009, 04:45
Is that little AT&T nexus room in San Francisco still recording every email and communication going in and out?

That's a triple-strength super-fuckload of information.

If that is happening, and if that is really what was happening, then you don't need to worry about being wiretapped because of nothing more than the volume. It would be impossible to surveil.
greed and death
22-05-2009, 05:01
That's a triple-strength super-fuckload of information.

If that is happening, and if that is really what was happening, then you don't need to worry about being wiretapped because of nothing more than the volume. It would be impossible to surveil.

Computers listen for certain phrases and flagged phrases are sent to a person to review. At least I think. Top secret stuff is hard to even speculate on.
Heinleinites
22-05-2009, 12:26
is this too much information for the government to give up willingly once they already have their paws on it...

Yes. Give the government an inch and they'll take...your freedom.
greed and death
22-05-2009, 12:27
Yes. Give the government an inch and they'll take...your freedom.

Ahhh the Bush doctrine.
Colonic Immigration
22-05-2009, 12:30
What wire tapping?
Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 14:38
What wire tapping?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/nsa_/index.html

It was World news for months and months.
Ring of Isengard
22-05-2009, 14:39
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/nsa_/index.html

It was World news for months and months.

That was 2 years ago! You can't expect me to remember that.
Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 14:42
That's a triple-strength super-fuckload of information.

If that is happening, and if that is really what was happening, then you don't need to worry about being wiretapped because of nothing more than the volume. It would be impossible to surveil.

Its not a question of if it happened, it was international news for months and Congress had to make a whole special law to prevent communication companies from getting sued for violating privacy agreements with their customers.
Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 15:10
Found this in google search. Its not good. Obamas administration is going FARTHER in its wiretapping claims then even the Bush administration tried.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/keith-olbermann-obama-and-wiretapping
The One Eyed Weasel
22-05-2009, 17:31
That was 2 years ago! You can't expect me to remember that.

And this proves my point.
Skama
22-05-2009, 17:37
If it's emails you're worrying about, why don't you just encrypt your data noobs? :p

1) Use an encrypted email service like hushmail
2) Because you don't trust them either, encrypt your data ON TOP of that.
3) Better double-encrypt it for extra security, you could even go for triple encryption if you want. I'm not stopping you from getting higher either.
4) Learn 2 use encryption programs, which are mostly free by the way (if you pay for software like this means you don't search well). Stuff like GNUPG or Omziff, the former being useful in public encryption -- i.e transferring private keys to use in Omziff if you talk to someone who you don't contact in real-life directly.

Oh and the most important step:

5) CHOOSE A MILITARY-GRADE PASSWORD

A "long-bits" encryption like 256-bits is worthless without an adequate (i.e LONG AND UNPREDICTABLE) password. The password is the weakest link in all encryption and if it is poor it can end up as THE thing that allows it to be cracked.

Example of military grade password:

D 0ا®qJ§-Ø3q4x§®F !Ø6®E®f 95)§x( aqG $^اxC9V%@Y¯®©Y2¯NtE6 HlTSF §2BuPH7D ©I}Y2اØ! #^1d+dI6[Y9 773@!^ #BneM3 #@cSLU]-e02 0a{pYr¯¯ ¯#¯d&R}©7[©wl 8©CD64©D y25R6+5§

Use some software like PINs to generate one.
You'll have the same security, if not MORE, than top military officials. :p

That should make you feel safe, right? If not, tough luck.
I think it's pretty safe to assume you shouldn't share this password and keep it ultra-safe somewhere right?

Oh and don't forget to change it often, so they can't trace patterns in your messages. When you want to change it you simply have to send it to someone who should decrypt your messages (and trust), encrypted of course via the old password.
Ifreann
22-05-2009, 17:56
Of course it's still there but they just don't talk about it because they know the public has an amazingly short attention span and they've pretty much forgotten about it.

That was 2 years ago! You can't expect me to remember that.

As it was written, so it has come to pass.
greed and death
22-05-2009, 23:28
Found this in google search. Its not good. Obamas administration is going FARTHER in its wiretapping claims then even the Bush administration tried.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/keith-olbermann-obama-and-wiretapping

Keith Olbermann is being unpatriotic. We just elected Obama can we have a little faith in him that this stuff might be needed for national security?
If it is not being used as evidence in trial it is fine.
Intestinal fluids
22-05-2009, 23:57
Keith Olbermann is being unpatriotic. We just elected Obama can we have a little faith in him that this stuff might be needed for national security?
If it is not being used as evidence in trial it is fine.

So if the police want to enter your house daily and give it a full search, as long as they dont charge you with anything thats just fine with you?
greed and death
23-05-2009, 00:01
So if the police want to enter your house daily and give it a full search, as long as they dont charge you with anything thats just fine with you?

there is a difference. Namely I don't own the phone lines.
Intestinal fluids
23-05-2009, 00:11
there is a difference. Namely I don't own the phone lines.

No but you do rent them, just like you can rent an apartment. And you have a contract with the people you rent the lines with to insure your privacy.

Since you just rent, is it ok for the Landlord to wander around your apartment whenever he feels like it too? Or the police since you only rent?
Dragontide
23-05-2009, 03:06
They could at least give the wire tapping contracts to pizza delivery restraunts so we can order dinner while taking an important call.
Ifreann
23-05-2009, 20:56
They could at least give the wire tapping contracts to pizza delivery restraunts so we can order dinner while taking an important call.

I could not support this more.
greed and death
23-05-2009, 21:48
No but you do rent them, just like you can rent an apartment. And you have a contract with the people you rent the lines with to insure your privacy.

Since you just rent, is it ok for the Landlord to wander around your apartment whenever he feels like it too? Or the police since you only rent?

Your land lord can inspect your premises with 48 hours notice with or without the police.

http://www.att.com/gen/privacy-policy?pid=7666#3

ATT's privacy policy says they will give information to the police.
Not reading what you sign perhaps ??
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 21:50
And this proves my point.

As it was written, so it has come to pass.

2 years for me is a lt more than it is to you old farts.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:36
2 years for me is a lt more than it is to you old farts.

There's two years of my life I don't even fuckin' remember at all.
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:38
There's two years of my life I don't even fuckin' remember at all.

Surely there's two years of everyones life they don't remember... the first 2.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:38
Surely there's two years of everyones life they don't remember... the first 2.

I meant as an adult.
greed and death
23-05-2009, 23:39
Surely there's two years of everyones life they don't remember... the first 2.

I remember bits and pieces form that.
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:40
I meant as an adult.

I was being facisious (or however you spell it). Drugs? Amnesia?
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:41
I was being facisious (or however you spell it). Drugs? Amnesia?

http://www.scienceofdrink.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/my-liquor-cabinet.jpg
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:43
http://www.scienceofdrink.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/my-liquor-cabinet.jpg

I acn't see it. :( Haven't installed java after I wiped my computer.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:44
I acn't see it. :( Haven't installed java after I wiped my computer.

Can't see a jpg?

.........

Your computer's fuxxored.

It was a giant liquor cabinet.
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:45
Can't see a jpg?

.........

Your computer's fuxxored..
I know, I can't be bothered to fix it atm.
It was a giant liquor cabinet.

Seriously? 2 years?
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:47
Seriously? 2 years?

Ya.
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:48
Ya.

:eek: And I thought I drank allot.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:50
:eek: And I thought I drank allot.

Honestly, I remember taking two final exams at the very end and getting my degree.

The rest of college... honestly it could have been a body double who did it.
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:51
Honestly, I remember taking two final exams at the very end and getting my degree.

The rest of college... honestly it could have been a body double who did it.

I suppose that's sort of similar to when I used toke. I honestly can't much atall.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:53
I suppose that's sort of similar to when I used toke. I honestly can't much atall.

Ironically, I still graduated with a 3.8 GPA. :confused:
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:54
Ironically, I still graduated with a 3.8 GPA. :confused:

I have no idea what that means.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:57
I have no idea what that means.

A's and B's.
Ring of Isengard
23-05-2009, 23:58
A's and B's.

Oh, show off!
greed and death
23-05-2009, 23:59
I have no idea what that means.

all A's would be a 4.0.

so he has about 80% A's.
Galloism
23-05-2009, 23:59
Oh, show off!

I really shouldn't have drunk that much, but, in my defense, George W. Bush had just been reelected as president of the United States.
Ring of Isengard
24-05-2009, 00:01
I really shouldn't have drunk that much, but, in my defense, George W. Bush had just been reelected as president of the United States.

Oh, that's not a bad excuse. If McCain got elected I would be a pisshead.
Intestinal fluids
24-05-2009, 00:42
Oh, that's not a bad excuse. If McCain got elected I would be a pisshead.

I hope this is all special code to prevent the government from spying on your real message and not the boring off topic spam that it appears to be.