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The Computers are Listening How the NSA Converts Spoken Words Into Searchable Text
The Intercept ^ | Today at 7:08 AM | Dan Froomkin

Posted on 05/05/2015 5:22:43 PM PDT by Utilizer

Most people realize that emails and other digital communications they once considered private can now become part of their permanent record.

But even as they increasingly use apps that understand what they say, most people don’t realize that the words they speak are not so private anymore, either.

Top-secret documents from the archive of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden show the National Security Agency can now automatically recognize the content within phone calls by creating rough transcripts and phonetic representations that can be easily searched and stored.

The documents show NSA analysts celebrating the development of what they called “Google for Voice” nearly a decade ago.

Though perfect transcription of natural conversation apparently remains the Intelligence Community’s “holy grail,” the Snowden documents describe extensive use of keyword searching as well as computer programs designed to analyze and “extract” the content of voice conversations, and even use sophisticated algorithms to flag conversations of interest.

(Excerpt) Read more at firstlook.org ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: cellphones; nsa; nsalisten
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Just because you're paranoid...

Doesn't mean they're not spying on you.

1 posted on 05/05/2015 5:22:44 PM PDT by Utilizer
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To: Utilizer

this can’t be a surprise to anyone

of course, many still don’t realize that anything with a mic is open for recording (and later transcribing) 24x7

once the conversations have been recorded and stored, they are indexed for easier searching.

sometime in the future, a warrant from a judge will enable the feds to look up all digital information gathered in which you were involved or mentioned... over the proceeding 10+ years... to be used against you for whatever purpose they see fit


2 posted on 05/05/2015 5:33:11 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: sten

You would be surprised how many people still do not know that their laptop cameras or other webcams can be remotely accessed, along with any attached microphones as well.


3 posted on 05/05/2015 5:38:42 PM PDT by Utilizer (Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the muzlims trying to kill them)
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To: Utilizer

As bad as this is. I’ve been past the point of extortion since the mid nineties :)


4 posted on 05/05/2015 5:40:56 PM PDT by dp0622
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To: Utilizer

Igpay atinlay or something like that


5 posted on 05/05/2015 5:45:39 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: Utilizer
whatever NSA is doing is made possible by private sector technology and complicity.

And if Big Brother is watching, you be sure Big Business Brother is watching 10 times closer.

6 posted on 05/05/2015 5:46:32 PM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Francis)
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To: dp0622

It’s a good way to live.


7 posted on 05/05/2015 5:47:44 PM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Francis)
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To: dp0622

Good on ya. I understand the statute of limitations (except for murder) is ten years. I suppose I no longer have to worry about any driving infractions now that I have passed that milestone.

Still, I never have any cameras connected to the internet, or microphones for that matter.

Well, other than the times when one girl or another -ehrmm, I mean, never mind. :)


8 posted on 05/05/2015 5:58:15 PM PDT by Utilizer (Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the muzlims trying to kill them)
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To: Utilizer

lol


9 posted on 05/05/2015 5:59:14 PM PDT by dp0622
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To: Utilizer
When I saw advertisements for Dragon on TV, a light bulb turned on in my mind. I thought, what if the NSA put phone conversations into a similar speech recognition system and stored it as text? They could store a huge amount of text and through search programs, track down text about any subject matter. All the phone calls in the United States would be in memory and sophisticated programs would be written to learn any information about people they want. All this without phone tap warrants because the laws pertain to live phone conversations; not text.

Then, I thought about another possibility. What if this ability could be used to target people in a political campaign? You could get a list of names and phone numbers of all the people who you could solicit for donations. For those with text capability, you could text a request to donate or get registered to vote or get your ballot mailed. This electioneering would be available to the administration in power. It would give them a huge advantage.

10 posted on 05/05/2015 5:59:45 PM PDT by jonrick46 (The Left has a mental deficiency: A totalitarian mindset..)
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To: Utilizer; COUNTrecount; Nowhere Man; FightThePower!; C. Edmund Wright; jacob allen; Travis McGee; ..
At no point in history has any government ever wanted its people to be defenseless for any good reason ~ nully's son

The biggest killer of mankind

Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping!

To get onto The Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping List you must threaten to report me to the Mods if I don't add you to the list...


11 posted on 05/05/2015 6:12:56 PM PDT by null and void (My favorite drawings at the Muhammad cartoon festival in Texas were the two chalk outlines out front)
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To: Utilizer
Most people realize that emails and other digital communications they once considered private can now become part of their permanent record.

That may be true for some people. But not if you are a highly placed government official -- no one tracks those communications. They vanish instantly as soon as they are sent, and can never be retrieved.

12 posted on 05/05/2015 6:13:26 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Democrats. They just ... say stuff.)
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To: jonrick46

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?


13 posted on 05/05/2015 6:17:45 PM PDT by null and void (My favorite drawings at the Muhammad cartoon festival in Texas were the two chalk outlines out front)
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To: null and void

So true. The digital age in the hands of an oligarchy with a totalitarian mindset becomes the beast. The Hildebeast comes to mind. She will finish what Zer0 has started.


14 posted on 05/05/2015 6:33:21 PM PDT by jonrick46 (The Left has a mental deficiency: A totalitarian mindset..)
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To: null and void

the pogrom just continues


15 posted on 05/05/2015 6:38:42 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: jonrick46

The whore of Babylon, drunk on the blood of Saints...


16 posted on 05/05/2015 6:41:47 PM PDT by null and void (My favorite drawings at the Muhammad cartoon festival in Texas were the two chalk outlines out front)
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To: Utilizer

Big Brother. This must be stopped.


17 posted on 05/05/2015 8:36:33 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Utilizer

Didn’t stop the Garland, TX plot, did it?


18 posted on 05/05/2015 9:03:24 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion ( "Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal.")
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To: Utilizer
You would be surprised how many people still do not know that their laptop cameras or other webcams can be remotely accessed, along with any attached microphones as well.

Do you have to be on line or can they somehow bypass you being online and listen to you anyway?

19 posted on 05/06/2015 6:03:18 PM PDT by Bellflower (It's not that there isn't any evidence of God, it's that everything is evidence of God.)
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To: Bellflower

For the vast majority of cameras out there, you must be connected to a network for it to be accessed. However, speaking as an experienced Radio Tech, if you have a wireless cam then all one has to do is scan for the exact frequency it is transmitting on and the A/V stream can be captured. If you have a webcam plugged in to a USB port then you must be online for it to be vulnerable.

That also applies to the “wireless” (wifi) function on a laptop since it is hardwired to the laptop. As long as your wifi function is enabled the camera and mic are accessible.

Cellphone cams and mics can be and are available for anyone with the right equipment to turn on remotely. Legally, only a law-enforcement agency can get a warrant to turn them on but yes, the various cellphone providers can turn them on if they wish. Even in the past with POTS technology is was not uncommon for the LEOs or the Feds to turn on your telephone mic so they could listen in, but that required a warrant and Probable Cause being provided to a judge.


20 posted on 05/06/2015 6:58:18 PM PDT by Utilizer (Bacon A'kbar! - In world today are only peaceful people, and the muzlims trying to kill them)
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