Docs show FBI tracks cell, phone, email, and IM extrajudicially

Washington Post reports today on documents obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation that depict a FBI communications dragnet consisting of open circuits from telecom companies:
The circuits — little-known electronic connections between telecom firms and FBI monitoring personnel around the country — are used to tell the government who is calling whom, along with the time [...]

Telecoms spending big on Capitol Hill

In an obvious development, it turns out the telecom industry has been quite generous to members of Congress these past few years. One could make the case that this compromises Congress’ objectivity in regards to FISA extensions — the so-called ‘Protect America Act — with telecom immunity.
The 68 senators who voted “yes” on the legislation [...]

FISA: It’s the emails

It is now official: the fight over FISA extensions is not about phone conversations — it’s about internet data.
At a Monday breakfast sponsored by the American Bar Association, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Kenneth Wainstein remarked that the fight over the eavesdropping bill actually centers on US interception of email.
“In response to a [...]

Almost Legal?

Image compliments of Electronic Frontier Foundation. Splitter and NSA room described here.

Senate: 1 - Privacy: 0

In clear contempt of American civil liberties, the Senate voted today to legalize President Bush’s warrant-less wiretapping programs and shield telecoms from privacy lawsuits stemming from their cooperation.
The bill, which expires in six years, allows the government to install permanent wiretapping outposts in telephone and internet facilities inside the United States without a warrant. However, [...]

Senate Set to OK Data Mining, Telecom Immunity

[This is a repost and it is long, but it is important, thank you for understanding.]
The Senate will vote this afternoon on S.2248, an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which has become anything but foreign. It has morphed into a decree on domestic spying, particularly giving telecom companies immunity for taking part in [...]

Fear Mongering Over FISA Extensions

The Republican National Committee released a video today attacking Senate Democrats for their opposition to the Orwellian FISA extensions. The fear mongering in this video is Tancredo-esque: complete with ticking clocks, jingoism, and simplistic conclusions.

While these scare tactics are especially disturbing, the Arabic like pronunciation of Barack Obama’s name and the vilification of Democrats in [...]