NSA Program Found Unconstitutional Went On For 3 Years; Started Right After Telcos Got Immunity

[Catherina]

NSA Program Found Unconstitutional Went On For 3 Years; Started Right After Telcos Got Immunity

from the law-breaking?-what-law-breaking? dept

A further delve into the latest NSA surveillance bombshell from the WSJ highlights the ridiculousness of the claims that there were "no violations" by the NSA over the years. We've been aware for a while that the FISC ruled a certain NSA program unconstitutional, but the details had been kept secret. It only came out that something was found unconstitutional a year ago, through the efforts of Senator Ron Wyden. Since then, people have been digging for more. The DOJ finally has agreed to release a redacted version of the FISC ruling after fighting it for a while, but as we wait, some more details have been coming out. Last week's Washington Post story about abuses claimed that this particular program wasn't reported to the FISC for "many months."

Yet, as we mentioned last night, the WSJ article claims that the program actually went on for three years:

For example, a recent Snowden document showed that the surveillance court ruled that the NSA had set up an unconstitutional collection effort. Officials say it was an unintentional mistake made in 2008 when it set filters on programs like these that monitor Internet traffic; NSA uncovered the inappropriate filtering in 2011 and reported it.

No biggie. The NSA just illegally collected information that clearly violated the 4th Amendment (even the rubberstamp FISC says so!) for three years. But there's no abuse. No sir. No problems at all.

...

And, you wonder why the key part of CISPA was to basically extend blanket immunity on privacy violations between not just telcos and the government, but basically all tech companies. The more immunity the government grants, the more "legal" all its actions become. It's sickening.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130821/01021524265/nsa-program-found-unconstitutional-went-3-years-started-right-after-telcos-got-immunity.shtml

[nashville_brook]

1. of coooouuuuuurse! immunity! that's explains a lot.

[Hydra]

2. The funny thing is, they can't "Grant Immunity"

From the Forth Amendment. They can just refuse to prosecute, which is allowing people to break the law....which makes them a party to the crime.

[Catherina]

3. This whole sham is unraveling fast

No wonder its lovers are becoming so unhinged.

[Hydra]

4. Asking for Immunity for Bush will be the kiss of death

That's the main thing President Obama campaigned on, despite his attempt to make it about "One America."

No other act could so clearly show who he most agrees with, except that Manning's sentencing managed to delineate it even better.

Elite criminals = Awesome
Lowly Whistleblower = DEATH!!!

[Catherina]

5. See BigTree's thread. Pic

'NSA and FBI . . . monitored content of ALL email and text communications in Salt Lake City '

tweeted by, JuddLegum Judd Legum 56m
Pretty shocking revelation buried in today's WSJ article on NSA spying