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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSchneier on Security: NSA Surveillance and Mission Creep
https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/08/nsa_surveillanc.htmlNSA Surveillance and Mission Creep
Last month, I wrote about the potential for mass surveillance mission creep: the tendency for the vast NSA surveillance apparatus to be used for other, lesser, crimes. My essay was theoretical, but it turns out to be already happening.
Other agencies are already asking to use the NSA data:
The Drug Enforcement Agency is already using this data, and lying about it:
I find that "some experts say" bit funny. I suppose it's Reuters' way of pretending there's balance.
This is really bad. The surveillance state is closer than most of us think.
Last month, I wrote about the potential for mass surveillance mission creep: the tendency for the vast NSA surveillance apparatus to be used for other, lesser, crimes. My essay was theoretical, but it turns out to be already happening.
Other agencies are already asking to use the NSA data:
Agencies working to curb drug trafficking, cyberattacks, money laundering, counterfeiting and even copyright infringement complain that their attempts to exploit the security agencys vast resources have often been turned down because their own investigations are not considered a high enough priority, current and former government officials say.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is already using this data, and lying about it:
A secretive U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unit is funneling information from intelligence intercepts, wiretaps, informants and a massive database of telephone records to authorities across the nation to help them launch criminal investigations of Americans.
Although these cases rarely involve national security issues, documents reviewed by Reuters show that law enforcement agents have been directed to conceal how such investigations truly begin -- not only from defense lawyers but also sometimes from prosecutors and judges.
The undated documents show that federal agents are trained to "recreate" the investigative trail to effectively cover up where the information originated, a practice that some experts say violates a defendant's Constitutional right to a fair trial. If defendants don't know how an investigation began, they cannot know to ask to review potential sources of exculpatory evidence -- information that could reveal entrapment, mistakes or biased witnesses.
Although these cases rarely involve national security issues, documents reviewed by Reuters show that law enforcement agents have been directed to conceal how such investigations truly begin -- not only from defense lawyers but also sometimes from prosecutors and judges.
The undated documents show that federal agents are trained to "recreate" the investigative trail to effectively cover up where the information originated, a practice that some experts say violates a defendant's Constitutional right to a fair trial. If defendants don't know how an investigation began, they cannot know to ask to review potential sources of exculpatory evidence -- information that could reveal entrapment, mistakes or biased witnesses.
I find that "some experts say" bit funny. I suppose it's Reuters' way of pretending there's balance.
This is really bad. The surveillance state is closer than most of us think.
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Schneier on Security: NSA Surveillance and Mission Creep (Original Post)
backscatter712
Aug 2013
OP
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)1. It is not "close" it is here.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)2. I won't say we live in Nazi America quite yet.
But we're definitely in Weimar America...
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)7. George Orwell warned us
Recursion
(56,582 posts)3. So why did DEA get the data when the other agencies were turned down? (nt)
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)4. Because they're especially lucrative with civil forfeiture actions? n/t
Recursion
(56,582 posts)5. Fair point (nt)
dkf
(37,305 posts)8. How do we know for sure other agencies were turned down?
Chances are good that if they're getting info from the NSA, they're not telling us, or they're lying to us.
dkf
(37,305 posts)10. Exactly.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)12. I'm just taking Schneier's word
That's what the posted article said.
dkf
(37,305 posts)13. He is probably simply trying to be conservative in his assertions.
longship
(40,416 posts)6. I trust Schneier.
He does not go beyond the evidence.
R&K
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)11. K&R