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.
...
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.
...
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.
That truly is one remarkable building - not a window that I can see right off (if there even are any)
The Black Cube.
Zero windows is a hallmark of a data center. The other hallmarks are huge backup generators, diesel fuel tanks, and massive cooling systems. In an urban setting, fuel and generators are hidden underground, inside the building, or adjoining buildings. The AC is probably on the roof.
Yeah, that’s my conclusion as well. Lack of windows means no electronic interrogation, monitoring, interference and maybe (?) designed to withstand some sort of EMP attack? (dunno)
I assume those massive openings can be buttoned-up inside somehow - just a guess, of course
What is that building called? I can’t remember but I saw pics of it years and years ago
Windows are a huge source of neat loss. Since nobody and nothing needs natural light inside the buildings, no need for windows. Plus, as you say, it makes it a lot easier to shield all the data equipment inside a huge Faraday cage.
Yep
I just got done working in a virtually-unnamed building - relatively low-pay but it worked fine for me (left about 1.5 years ago - will not name the organization)
Actually liked it - completely forbidden to public access in general on a day-to-day basis. Lots of secured doors and entrances
Both cars got messed up in those years, though
I’ve been in a couple of them - one was a bank building with no banking - IOW, a data center (building still stands, parking garage next door was destroyed probably for structural reasons) - yeah I parked there - in the 1980’s
NSA took control of the internet when Bush signed The Patriot Act into law.
Which reminds me that nothing that the Nazi’s did in WWII was technically illegal. All the laws had been changed to make it perfectly legal for Hitler to do exactly what he did.
Hmmmm.
They spy no matter what any law says.
Military terminology ~~ HARDENED.
Nope. The stupid stops here and now. Call it out where ever you see it. Dont stand for it. If you see these people acting stupid you make a scene and start a crowd and you push back on them. And you tell them that they are not welcome. Any more. ANYWHERE! They have released the whirlwind. And they will pay the price.
..guess who for the Daily Double!
I interviewed for a position at a data center company near Sacramento (didn’t get it). The facility was nearing construction completion and it was a VERY fascinating tour.
People have NO idea of what is behind the scenes to keep these bits flowing. It is staggeringly complex and sophisticated.
I worked in the power industry for 30 years and it was the same thing. I often thought to myself “How could this staggeringly complex, very large system with hundreds of millions of parts possibly keep the power in 24 x 7?”
Cool - my first programming assignment was that bank facility - IBM 3083 MVS plus a 370-158 for R&D - did some work on another IBM machine there
Those were great days - learned a tremendous amount
You might very well be right.
Absolute Must Read:
Mike Garcia Tells FBI Director Chris Wray His Agency Has Ideologically Inverted and Now Represents the USA Equivalent of The Soviet Secret Police (Apr 16, 2024)
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