Posted on 05/12/2006 3:10:38 AM PDT by SUSSA
BOSTON — If the National Security Agency (NSA) is indeed amassing a colossal database of Americans' phone records, one way to use all that information is in "social-network analysis," a data-mining method that aims to expose previously invisible connections among people.
(snip)
That level of cooperation confirmed the fears of many privacy analysts, who pointed out that AT&T is already being sued in federal court in San Francisco for allegedly giving the NSA access to contents of its phone and Internet networks.
The suit, filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and based on documents from a former AT&T technician, says secret spying rooms and electronic-surveillance equipment were installed by the NSA in AT&T facilities in Seattle and several cities in California to monitor communications. The government is seeking to dismiss the case, citing "the military and state-secrets privilege," according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
(snip)
Social-network analysis would appear to be powerless against criminals and terrorists who rely on a multitude of cellphones, pay phones, calling cards and Internet cafes.
And then there are more creative ways of getting off the grid. In the Madrid train-bombings case, the plotters communicated by sharing one e-mail account and saving messages to each other as drafts that didn't traverse the Internet like regular mail messages would.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Easy now...it's not so much where you dial, but what is said.A misdialed number will be viewed as such. These programs, so I have heard, work off of key words like bomb, kill, etc.
The individuals who have the most to fear from surveillance and compilation of phone record data are:
- terrorists
- leftists
- liberals
- Democrats
They are all shrieking because they must not let their own disloyal behavior be exposed.
Can people who are so ill informed really be capable of guiding our country? How incompetent must one be not to know about a program that has been in existence for years?
Young Man: Hey, my IQ is only 90 and I didn't graduate from school.
Adviser: Don't worry son, you can always run for Congress.
Unless you "misdial" the same number time and time again, you won't be linked. They are analyzing calling patterns.
Now, if you accidently dial an overseas number and happen to reach an known Al-Qaeda operative...
Most of them will only care because she is a Democrat.
They aren't listening in on any conversations. They aren't recording any conversations. The private phone companies have turned over records of phone calls made, and the NSA runs the numbers to see if they match any of their interest. They aren't collecting personal info, no addresses, no names (like the couldn't get it by using google) etc.
Is the government at fault here, or the private phone companies? What does everyone's phone company's privacy policy say? You agreed to it.
My question is, is this just land-based lines? We don't use land-based lines at home.
I don't like the idea of government intrusion either, but it gets touchy when private businesses are involved.
Look at Yahoo and Google in China, turning over anti-commies. My gut worries about that, also.
God I wish our country wasn't so insane at the moment. Too bad we can't even discuss stuff anymore.
That would be a misuse of the information, and would be proscutable. If Dubya were using this information to retaliate against his detractors, that also would be a misuse of the information and you would find FReepers at the front of the impeachment lynch mob.
The fact is that Congress has been kept informed about these programs, and there is no hint of misusing the information.
The only misuse is the illegal leaking that these programs exist.
I am considering moving to Quest after this. If someone wants their privacy invaded, that is their business. Personally, I am offended that my privacy is being invaded in such an offhand and casual way.
If they insist on invading my privacy, then the Government can get rid of all the gun control laws in order to make the American people secure that yeah, they are monitoring call records but we have the ultimate veto power.
As it stands now, it is unacceptable.
Mike
Face it, Gang. This is ALL we're going to hear about from the MSM 24/7 due to the nomination of Michael Hayden to the CIA Chief position. The MSM will continue to print this cr@p until Hayden is ridden out of town on a rail, or until he's appointed and then they'll move on to Bush Bash in another venue.
Nevermind the FACT that there have been FIVE other military men appointed to head the CIA through the years. The MSM is so absolutely transparent. *Rolleyes*
Thanks, Peach! Nice summary. I was looking for just that type of info to give to my brother to tell him to STFU about this bogus non-issue. :)
I just wish all the nation's enemies were this moronic.
FNC reported this morning that Sen. Pat Roberts says that his commitee was briefed about the program. Funny the 'Rats waited 'til now to raise a stink about it. What took 'em so long...?
I can live with that. ;) Most of our enemies are pretty stupid, but we do a good job of shooting our own selves in the foot, too. It's infuriating!
Man, if they would just listen to me...problems would get solved around here. ;)
They can pay my bill.
The Filegate scandal was also prosecutable. However, with a corrupt Attorney General in power, all crimes are possible.
I wonder where post-9/11 conservatives now draw the line.
Corrupt Attorney General, or Corrupt Media?
Since state governments have been selling drivers license lists to marketers (to raise money and save on taxes), perhaps the Feds could sell some raw (or mined) data to telemarketers. Phone numbers (and mailing addresses and e-mail addresses) of people who call Home Depot or Lowes could be sold as a group. Divorce lawyers could do traffic analysis to see if someone is calling the girlfriend (boyfriend respectively) from the office. There's a gold (and data) mine here.
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