Posted on 04/16/2024 5:56:31 AM PDT by george76
The FISA 702 bill has been described by critics as a “dramatic and terrifying” expansion of the United States government’s surveillance powers. .
The United States National Security Agency (NSA) is only days away from “taking over the internet” with a massive expansion of its surveillance powers, according to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
In an April 16 post to X, Snowden drew attention to a thread originally posted by Elizabeth Goitein — the co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice — that warned of a new bill that could see the U.S. government surveillance powers amplified to new levels.
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The bill in question reforms and extends a part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) known as Section 702.
Currently, the NSA can force internet service providers such as Google and Verizon to hand over sensitive data concerning NSA targets.
However, Goitein claims that through an “innocuous change” to the definition of “electronic communications surveillance provider” in the FISA 702 bill, the U.S. government could go far beyond its current scope and force nearly every company and individual that provides any internet-related service to assist with NSA surveillance.
That sweeps in an enormous range of U.S. businesses that provide wifi to their customers and therefore have access to equipment on which communications transit. Barber shops, laundromats, fitness centers, hardware stores, dentist’s offices.”
Additionally, the people forced to hand over data would be unable to discuss the information provided due to hefty gag order penalties and conditions outlined in the bill, added Goitein.
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The bill initially received heavy pushback from privacy-conscious Republicans but passed through the U.S. House of Representatives on April 13.
Part of the pushback saw the bills’ proposed spying powers time-frame cut from five years to two years, as well as some minor amendments to the service providers included under the surveillance measures.
However, according to Goitein, the amendment did very little to reduce the scope of surveillance granted to the NSA.
In her view, the amendment could even see service providers such as cleaners, plumbers and IT service providers that have access to laptops and routers inside people’s homes be forced to provide information and serve as “surrogate spies,” claimed Goitein.
The bill has seen strong pushback from both sides of the political aisle, with several government representatives claiming the bill violates citizen’s constitutional rights.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden described the bill as “terrifying” and said he would do everything in his power to prevent it from being passed through the Senate.
“This bill represents one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history.”
Republican Congressperson Anna Paulina Luna, who voted against the bill in the House of Representatives, said Section 702 was an “irresponsible extension” of the NSA’s powers. Luna added that if government agencies wanted access to data, they must be forced to apply for a warrant.
The bill is slated for a vote on April 19 in the U.S. Senate.
He’s a bit behind the curve.
They have had it since the beginning...............
The NSA’s already “there”; has been for years.
taking over the internet? didn’t we actually give away the internet years ago?
Censorship will be next “to save democracy”. Free Republic may eventually be removed.
I fully expect that to actually happen.
In order to save Free Speech we must kill it...................
They couldn’t exactly predict it because they first had to pass the bill to find out what’s in it.
....the Brennan Center for Justice....now there’s an irony of what is going on now...
“Censorship will be next “to save democracy”. ”
Time for “democracy” to go.
Snowden: White hat, Black hat, or both?
I’m shocked that AlGore allowed this to happen.
Business entities regardless of size are now reflexively complying, submissively like sheep, whenever Big Brother comes around, demanding customer data.
You used to read stories about this or that company resisting, but no longer.
The federal government is in this regard on an unobstructed rampage that only Congress can stop or impede. Even they though shrink from the role of watchdog.
I often wonder if this guy is a hero or a traitor. I’d say both. He blew the whistle big time, then went to a potential enemy, and he’s bound to have given some secrets away. Should he be given a medal or a rope, again I’d say both.
Another poster mentioned FR could go away, I tend to see this as a possibility. They can’t have people preaching the Constitution is the just law of the land or that Christ is real.
Exactly—Congress just wants to protect the guilty.
Snowden and the rest of the whistleblowers are heros.
Those who use technology to mass spy on Americans—directly or indirectly—are traitors.
We may not be able to stop the traitors but at least those who are paying attention now understand the rules of the game these days...
There are no rules—we are on our own.
Watch the movie Snowden. Shows how NSA can be used to blackmail anyone. Especially politicians.
Dems seem immune from this by design
Hero or villain if the movie shows reality it is a key to understanding how Congress is so dysfunctional.
In the end like Biden it’s all about the $$$
Algore has the nickname and password for the whole thing ,LOL
Yes, they have, logging everything. Able to sift thru with supercomputers at ALL, I repeat ALL, communications, phone calls, emails, even video game blogs. Everything.
They got the goods, of good guys and bad guys. "We've caught them All!"
Yep MASSIVE computers combined with AI screen the internet in a way the average person cannot even comprehend.
Call your Reps
(202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard operator
Mention state and zip code to be connected.
Reference: Vote in Senate scheduled April 19.
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