hmmmmmmmmmm...

[kpete]

In one instance, the NSA decided that it need not report the unintended surveillance of Americans. A notable example in 2008 was the interception of a “large number” of calls placed from Washington when a programming error confused the U.S. area code 202 for 20, the international dialing code for Egypt, according to a “quality assurance” review that was not distributed to the NSA’s oversight staff.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-broke-privacy-rules-thousands-of-times-per-year-audit-finds/2013/08/15/3310e554-05ca-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html

Intercepted by accident?

They meant to be spying on Egypt?

No need to tell anyone about it. That's rich.

What was happening in 2008, I'm trying to remember...? Oh, yes. Elections. And not in Egypt.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/16/1231638/-Leaked-NSA-audit-details-thousands-of-annual-privacy-nbsp-violations#c65

[clarice]

1. LOL....good one. nt

[unblock]

2. it's actually a plausible explanation, egypt's country code is 20, and then cairo's city code is 2.

though that certainly doesn't excuse failing to report it, and it also highlights the additional problem of "accidental" spying on americans.

this is hardly the last "programming error" the spying machine will ever have.

the fact that they felt they didn't need to report it shows the lack of proper oversight.

the police fill out a form every time they discharge a gun, even if it's justified, even if it's an accident. you don't just decide it's not a problem and ignore it. you have a procedure that provides for review and *that* is what decides it's not a problem.

[hootinholler]

6. Back in the day I had set up my modem to dial a machine in the UK...

To get the outside line from my office it was 9 followed by the country code 11 it worked great from inside my office.

It didn't work quite as well from my house, Of course I had modem noise turned off and was trying to figure out why the damned machine wouldn't sync when the call was answered. That's when I head the loud knocking at the front door.

Yep, it was a deputy. Glad this was back in the day they probably would send SWAT today.

[unblock]

9. haha, mini-unblock once managed to dial 911 when he was 3

just pushing buttons in the few seconds before we were able to grab it away from him lol.

yup, we got a visit, good to know the system works i guess.


interestingly, mrs. unblock then hit "redial" to see what numbers mini-unblock had actually pressed. on our phone, "redial" only brings up the number, you have to hit "talk" to initiate the call.

except that the police officer knocked on the door again just a moment later -- apparently when you dial 911, unlike any other number, it immediately contacts the emergency dispatcher, you don't have to hit "talk".

[OnyxCollie]

3. Spying on politicians before an election

and then using the info gathered to launch investigations and tarnish their image.

This is the reason for the US Attorney scandal and the high number of prosecutions against Democrats.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. So of course NSA recently announced it is laying off thousands of technicians

in an effort to keep more things even more secret.

What could possible go wrong?

[kentuck]

5. Bush was President.

INDEED.

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. Sad K&R

[PowerToThePeople]

8. With the goings on in today

It would be very sad if we were interfering with elections over there. But, it seems very likely imo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_municipal_elections,_2008

[Wilms]

10. ^

[KamaAina]

11. When will that damn corporate shill Obama admit he's been spying on us?

Oh, wait... 2008...