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Americans Are The Most Spied On People In World History

George Washington's picture




 

TechDirt notes:

In a radio interview, Wall Street Journal reporter Julia Angwin (who’s been one of the best at covering the surveillance state in the US) made a simple observation that puts much of this into context: the US surveillance regime has more data on the average American than the Stasi ever did on East Germans.

Indeed, the American government has more information on the average American than Stalin had on Russians, Hitler had on German citizens, or any other government has ever had on its people.

The American government is collecting and storing virtually every phone call, purchases, email,  text message, internet searches, social media communications, health information,  employment history, travel and student records, and virtually all other information of every American.

Some also claim that the government is also using facial recognition software and surveillance cameras to track where everyone is going. And – given that your smartphone routinely sends you location information back to Apple or Google – it would be child’s play for the government to track your location that way.

As the top spy chief at the U.S. National Security Agency explained this week, the American government is collecting some 100 billion 1,000-character emails per day, and 20 trillion communications of all types per year.

He says that the government has collected all of the communications of congressional leaders, generals and everyone else in the U.S. for the last 10 years.

He further explains that he set up the NSA’s system so that all of the information would automatically be encrypted, so that the government had to obtain a search warrant based upon probably cause before a particular suspect’s communications could be decrypted.  But the NSA now collects all data in an unencrypted form, so that no probable cause is needed to view any citizen’s information.  He says that it is actually cheaper and easier to store the data in an encrypted format: so the government’s current system is being done for political – not practical – purposes.

He says that if anyone gets on the government’s “enemies list”, then the stored information will be used to target them. Specifically, he notes that if the government decides it doesn’t like someone, it analyzes all of the data it has collected on that person and his or her associates over the last 10 years to build a case against him.

 

As we’ve previously documented, the spying isn’t being done to keep us safe … but to crush dissent and to smear people who uncover unflattering this about the government … and to help the too big to fail businesses compete against smaller businesses (and here).

And as we point out at every opportunity, this is not some “post-9/11 reality”.  Spying on Americans – and most of the other attacks on liberty – started before 9/11.

Senator Frank Church – who chaired the famous “Church Committee” into the unlawful FBI Cointel program, and who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – said in 1975:

Th[e National Security Agency's]  capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn’t matter. There would be no place to hide.  [If a dictator ever took over, the N.S.A.] could enable it to impose total tyranny ….

We can debate whether or not dictators are running Washington. But one thing is clear: the capacity is already here.

TechDirt points out:

While the Stasi likely wanted more info and would have loved to have been able to tap into a digitally connected world like we have today, that just wasn’t possible.

That’s true.  The tyrants in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia and Stasi Eastern Europe would have liked to easedrop on every communication and every transaction of every citizen.  But in the world before the internet, smart phones, electronic medical records and digital credit card transactions, much of what happened behind closed doors remained private.

(And modern tin pot dictators don’t have the tens of billions of dollars necessary to set up a sophisticated electronic spying system).

In modern America, a much higher percentage of your communications and transactions are being recorded and stored by the government.

 

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Wed, 12/05/2012 - 15:39 | 3036772 Hapa
Hapa's picture

make sure you let our handlers know how we feel about them.  since they're listening, you might as well be in their face

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 15:33 | 3036733 mrktwtch2
mrktwtch2's picture

my life is pretty plain and boring..so they can monitor me..lol

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 03:15 | 3038466 jballz
jballz's picture

while I find it more of a comedy show than anything else, I can assure you that visiting a site like this can easily be deemed subversive behavior in the right climate. Think of the lemmings out there who would not understand a single post here, and skitter off to TMZ if they got here by accident to vote on Lyndsey Lohan's bra choice.

 

You are exactly who they want to monitor. You're thinking in a dangerous manner and may need reprogramming.

Not saying it will come to that, just that every sign points in that direction and the price of liberty was eternal vigilance.

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 18:32 | 3037431 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

I weigh 240 lbs and walk around the house naked.  They can monitor me all they want too.

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 03:01 | 3038451 Things that go bump
Things that go bump's picture

Too much information.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 16:04 | 3036864 George Washington
George Washington's picture

The former NSA spy chief says it doesn't matter if YOU think you don't have to worry because your life is boring, you're missing the bigger picture ...In other words, it is the government - not you - who decides if your life is boring.

IF THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES IT DOESN'T LIKE THE COLOR OR SHIRT YOU'RE WEARING, THEY CAN GO AFTER YOU.

 

 

 

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 23:52 | 3038193 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

but honey, the government thinks I'm exciting!

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 19:28 | 3037566 CH1
CH1's picture

IF THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES IT DOESN'T LIKE THE COLOR OR SHIRT YOU'RE WEARING, THEY CAN GO AFTER YOU.

Yes, and their dutiful servants will stand in front of their TV cameras that same evening and tell everyone that you were found with dangerous substances in your house, and extremist literature, and that they suspect you of electrocuting puppies.

The sheep and the wannabe elites will believe them... just before they flip to Cop Worship Theater.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 17:13 | 3037120 aerojet
aerojet's picture

And then we'll have it out.  And when enough of your friends and neighbors either get arrested or disappear, you will realize that you have nothing to lose and rebel, too.  If this really is some insidious fascist takeover, it is not going to succeed any better than the 1000 year Reich did, technology or no.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 23:18 | 3038118 Bob
Bob's picture

Grapes of Wrath all over again:

  • And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed. The great owners ignored the three cries of history. The land fell into fewer hands, the number of dispossessed increased, and every effort of the great owners was directed at repression.
    • p.249
Wed, 12/05/2012 - 19:36 | 3037589 CH1
CH1's picture

And then we'll have it out.  And when enough of your friends and neighbors either get arrested or disappear...

Unfortunately, that day comes FAR too late. Those who won't act now, won't act then. (And for the record, NO, I am not talking about violence.) 

"When they cross this line." is an evasion. It is always redefined a little further, then a little further.

Someone who actually gives a shit will be acting like it - NOW.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 16:13 | 3036902 economics9698
economics9698's picture

mrkwath2 if you are trolling on ZH they are watching.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 17:08 | 3037100 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture

Feints aren't just for gov'ts anymore...

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 14:59 | 3036577 diogeneslaertius
diogeneslaertius's picture

welcome to the grid, user

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 03:09 | 3038459 jballz
jballz's picture

shit, does that mean my comments on zerohedge are being stored somewhere?

I don't want to start any trouble but "LetThemEatRand" is totally Al Qaeda.

I voted for McCain and Obama and Romney and I hate Ron Paul and he scares me with his freedom talking and such.

I heart FEMA?

Ah fuck it, see you at the gulag. If I get there early maybe they'll let me run the incincerators.

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 01:53 | 3038365 old naughty
old naughty's picture

"Welcome to the grid, user"

might I ask was it coincident that the FX Reserve shifting (UK to US) appeared within hours of this most spied (UK to US again) piece?

Are UK-US friends or foes or sinners of our fathers?

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 15:56 | 3036831 economics9698
economics9698's picture

The main way that the fascist have imposed their will on Americans has been financially.

Divorce laws, affirmative action, government jobs, and every aspect of economic life is designed to promote regime supporters and punish dissenters’ exactly like communist USSR and fascist Germany.

Take money away from those most likely to support freedom and liberty and redistribute it to those most likely to support statism. 

This was accomplished in 1913, 1933, 1965, and today the government has 100% perfect information taking all the guess work out of it.

When the fiat collapses the best way to fight statism is with 100% fractional reserve banking backed by gold or silver.  Let private banks issue the currency and get the governments of the world out of currency.

That is the way to freedom.  If a few states to it they will outcompete the statist.  Eventually lower tax, more competitive states would bankrupt the statist.

 

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 22:02 | 3037925 UGrev
UGrev's picture

Ermm.. no interest in fractional shit. 1 dollar of capital or GTFO. 

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 17:20 | 3037134 WTFx10
WTFx10's picture

"the best way to fight statism is with 100% fractional reserve banking backed by gold or silver.  Let private banks issue the currency and get the governments of the world out of currency."

PRIVATE BANKS issue it now

Governments don't issue currency they just buy the bucks from the PRIVATE Banks and we get to pay the fucking bill.

It was backed by gold and Silver before but that didn't stop the PRIVATE BANKS.

WTF posting this shit "the Best WAY"

Everytime they make it collapse, everyone suffers but the private BANKS . Lets make it diferent this time when it collapses ALL Central Banks and their shareholders are stripped of their wealth. Then we can figure out how to rebuild without the fucks who caused it.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 17:42 | 3037275 economics9698
economics9698's picture

By private banks I mean each company issues a currency in its own paper backed by gold or silver.  This worked well from 1837-62 until Lincoln passed the Greenback Law.

Eliminating governments or a private central bank from issuing currency removes power from the central bank/government and transfers that power to the holders of gold and silver.

This is extremely important to understand and why this prevents unnecessary wars, government interference in people’s lives, and statism.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 15:58 | 3036841 12ToothAssassin
12ToothAssassin's picture

I wonder if they can record my junks...

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 21:10 | 3037798 SAT 800
SAT 800's picture

External tooth star washers; one of my favorite things! Sort of a lock washer with intelligence added. The helped win WWII by keeping all the US aircraft radios screwed together, along with their little brothers, the internal tooth star washers. Hurrary for star washers!

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 18:34 | 3037437 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

 

BUCK FARACK.

 

Wonder if they saw that.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 16:14 | 3036906 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

You don't think they let Tyler get away with this site for nothing, do you? ;)

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 16:44 | 3037016 economics9698
economics9698's picture

Tyler is the “outer circle” guy pretending to be one of the peasants gathering information on the rebellious peasants so he can turn over the information to the “inner circle” and eventually eliminate these peasants who do not agree with the Sun King’s infinite wisdom.

Been there, done that a few million times in history.

Tyler you (all four or five of you) are cool guys.  Take it in stride.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 17:14 | 3037127 CrockettAlmanac.com
CrockettAlmanac.com's picture

 

 

 

Walter "Wat" Tyler (4 January 1341 – 15 June 1381) was a leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

 

 

20,000 people assembled at Smithfield. Richard II agreed to meet the leaders of the revolt, and listen to their demands. Wat Tyler decided to ride out alone and parley with the king. What was said between Tyler and the king is largely conjecture and little is known of the exact details of the encounter; however, by all accounts the unarmed Tyler was suddenly attacked without warning and killed by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Walworth, and John Cavendish, a member of the king's group. This unprovoked betrayal of the truce flag and Tyler's killing threw the people into a panic. Not being organized as a military force, they broke ranks and began to flee for their lives.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Tyler

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 21:23 | 3037815 SAT 800
SAT 800's picture

"We're from the government; we're here to help you".

Thu, 12/06/2012 - 01:47 | 3038349 old naughty
old naughty's picture

"...most spied on...in the world"?

Are you sure?

Not the galaxy, the local universe?

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 17:36 | 3037243 economics9698
economics9698's picture

Yep.  Happens all the time.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!