Snowden's Email Provider Vanishes, Vows To Fight For Constitution

[Baldr]

Unfortunately, FISA warrants are legal warrants, despite the fact they violate all common sense as to what a warrant is actually intended to do.

Right, sorry.

Still thinking of these silly things where you had to provide actual evidence upon which you based your suspicion against a single entity and only then could get access to the data concerning that specific entity only.

I should probably get on with the times.

It seems that it's now all about all data in which one of the parties is not American and containing a keyword that may possibly have some connection to terrorism.

This is no grey area/line in this case. There is enough evidence to bring Snowden to trial for blatently commited a felony. This time the Government has proper warrants and evidence to back it up, and the company still refuses to comply with the Government.

 

[Lightknight]

Eh, while I am a privacy advocate, I don't think entrusting privacy to foreign held entities is better. I certainly wouldn't trust non-US countries to be any less likely to monitor stuff. Though if I were doing something illegal I guess that'd make sense because another government wouldn't pursue charges. As is, anyone reading my stuff is going to be bored out of their mind.

 

[weirdee]

I never thought I'd get to watch a Jason Bourne movie in real life...

the leading actor needs more grizzle on his face though

 

[Something Amyss]

As far as I am aware, a judge won't just sign a warrant.

They have to present evidence to the judge, so that the judge feels that a warrant is justified, otherwise it isn't granted.

A warrant can even be contested. That's one of the big issues with the FISA court to my understanding. They just toss out "nashunul secureteh!" and screw you.

 

[Thyunda]

Ah...so not exactly the land of the free any more. At least with the original NSA and GCHQ revelations I could just shrug and say I really didn't care if they monitored my communications, but if they will actively harass non-complicit providers then we're rather overstepping into some fascist territory.

And yeah. I didn't consider the spying all that bad. Like...at all. The average US or UK citizen has nothing to fear from their communications being monitored, because I doubt anybody really cares what you talk about at night. Although it really could have been handled with more subtlety - not everything requires an armed raid, America.

But y'know, watch my internet usage all you like, GCHQ. I really hope you like erotica and awful flirting, because that's my outgoing communication, and I'm sure it'll keep you and your ties entertained all night.

 

[major_chaos]

I'm just going to sit back and laugh while people's faith in the glorious ObamaChrist slowly crumbles. Nice to see my suspicion that he was never anything more than a typical politician with a keen ability to incite the masses using speeches was correct.

 

[Jacco]

If Obama keeps going like he is, he's going to leave office as hated as Bush. It will be very interesting to see how the political world will look once the war for the White House starts again in 2015.

I have a feeling you are going to see a substantially revamped and far more moderate Republican party taking power and trying to repair the US's relationships with the international community while the Democrats will move into a more extreme state a la one like the Reps were touting during the last two elections.

 

[Greg White]

Snowden was using the email service to try and contact human rights groups. So according to the United States it is criminal to try and help a political refugee (recognised as one by the UN, no less) to try and communicate with legal human rights groups.

Absolutely outrageous. The current american regime does not give a fuck about moral principles; only about maintaining, and extending, its power and influence.

According to the US he is a criminal guilty of treason and espionage.

Unless they have the records of what the sent emails said they have no way of knowing if more classified information was released or if he was just looking for help.

So how is that war against Eurasia Eastasia Eurasia going?

OT: This is a bad sign is simply offering privacy is now considered a act against the people of the USA. Next up you will be a terrorist for having curtains covering your windows to stop the NSA having a peek. Land of the free, home of the brave and all that.

afraid to say, but you really don't have much of a case for privacy on the internet considering almost none of the equipment involved in the process are in your house. If they were pulling data directly from your computer that would be one thing, but it's not your equipment they're pulling from.

 

[SexyGarfield]

So how is that war against Eurasia Eastasia Eurasia going?

OT: This is a bad sign is simply offering privacy is now considered a act against the people of the USA. Next up you will be a terrorist for having curtains covering your windows to stop the NSA having a peek. Land of the free, home of the brave and all that.

afraid to say, but you really don't have much of a case for privacy on the internet considering almost none of the equipment involved in the process are in your house. If they were pulling data directly from your computer that would be one thing, but it's not your equipment they're pulling from.

So in your opinion private contracts are (aka privacy policies) can be invalidated at the whim of the government?

 

[Colt47]

I'm getting the severe impression that the NSA is composed of nationalistic zealots that are, at this point, looking for anything that happens to be target-able just to create an illusion of self worth. I've got no clue why they are receiving funding or any kind of support from us given they clearly only have self interest in mind.

 

[Greg White]

So how is that war against Eurasia Eastasia Eurasia going?

OT: This is a bad sign is simply offering privacy is now considered a act against the people of the USA. Next up you will be a terrorist for having curtains covering your windows to stop the NSA having a peek. Land of the free, home of the brave and all that.

afraid to say, but you really don't have much of a case for privacy on the internet considering almost none of the equipment involved in the process are in your house. If they were pulling data directly from your computer that would be one thing, but it's not your equipment they're pulling from.

So in your opinion private contracts are (aka privacy policies) can be invalidated at the whim of the government?

Contractual law is trumped by criminal law.

 

[William Ossiss]

Seems to me that our so called 'leaders' of the United States are just trolling about, trying to get us into another world war. Hey, here's an idea. How about instead of the U.N. we just form one planet, thereby giving everyone the rights as humans that they deserve, accepting everyone's religious beliefs, treating everyone as equals...

Instead we have this classicism infused money mongering country that can't tell it's arse from it's head; being that it is so far up there. The only time this country has been better off was when Bill was in office. Yeah, the man got a BJ under the oval office desk, but who cares? We impeached him for THAT?! It's like we hold the 'famous' people in a higher degree than we hold ourselves... As if they are better than us. We have become a paranoid state, thinking that everyone is out to get us. Snowden, whether he was right or wrong, is making matters worse.

You can't fuck with a paranoid person. Least of all a paranoid country. They're way too twitchy. One wrong word and it sets off their synapses that trigger a violent reaction.

 

[SexyGarfield]

So how is that war against Eurasia Eastasia Eurasia going?

OT: This is a bad sign is simply offering privacy is now considered a act against the people of the USA. Next up you will be a terrorist for having curtains covering your windows to stop the NSA having a peek. Land of the free, home of the brave and all that.

afraid to say, but you really don't have much of a case for privacy on the internet considering almost none of the equipment involved in the process are in your house. If they were pulling data directly from your computer that would be one thing, but it's not your equipment they're pulling from.

So in your opinion private contracts are (aka privacy policies) can be invalidated at the whim of the government?

Contractual law is trumped by criminal law.

The problem is the government has essentially declared privacy illegal. Have you committed any crimes? Nope? Too bad, we are hoovering up all your data anyways.

If you had the equipment at your house then the same laws should apply regarding the collection of data.

 

[Greg White]

So how is that war against Eurasia Eastasia Eurasia going?

OT: This is a bad sign is simply offering privacy is now considered a act against the people of the USA. Next up you will be a terrorist for having curtains covering your windows to stop the NSA having a peek. Land of the free, home of the brave and all that.

afraid to say, but you really don't have much of a case for privacy on the internet considering almost none of the equipment involved in the process are in your house. If they were pulling data directly from your computer that would be one thing, but it's not your equipment they're pulling from.

So in your opinion private contracts are (aka privacy policies) can be invalidated at the whim of the government?

Contractual law is trumped by criminal law.

The problem is the government has essentially declared privacy illegal. Have you committed any crimes? Nope? Too bad, we are hoovering up all your data anyways.

If you had the equipment at your house then the same laws should apply regarding the collection of data.

You do know the constitution doesn't give you the 'right to privacy,' right?

The closest thing it has is the right against unreasonable searches and seizures and the right against soldiers being quartered in your home, and something being for the sake of national security goes a long way towards being considered reasonable.

 

[weirdee]

If Obama keeps going like he is, he's going to leave office as hated as Bush. It will be very interesting to see how the political world will look once the war for the White House starts again in 2015.

I have a feeling you are going to see a substantially revamped and far more moderate Republican party taking power and trying to repair the US's relationships with the international community while the Democrats will move into a more extreme state a la one like the Reps were touting during the last two elections.

conservatives revamped? is this actually happening? last i heard, the few remaining moderates were losing their seats and the extremists, if not already the majority of the party, were substantial enough that no real reform would have been possible since they'd spend the entire time fighting with each other instead of actually dealing with the situation

as much as i am put off by past conservative actions, i'm willing to support anybody who doesn't constantly and flagrantly pick the wrong side of human rights issues that we should have already dealt with regarding legislation

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I'm getting the severe impression that the NSA is composed of nationalistic zealots that are, at this point, looking for anything that happens to be target-able just to create an illusion of self worth. I've got no clue why they are receiving funding or any kind of support from us given they clearly only have self interest in mind.

Mainly because most of America is composed of nationalistic zealots that are, at this point, looking for anything that happens to be target-able just to create an illusion of self worth.

In all seriousness though, most educated people probably DON'T support the NSA. Thing is, the NSA doesn't need our support. In their eyes we are all potentially the enemy, after all. The NSA acts almost exclusively in the interest of the government, not the civilian population, and civilian privacy is simply not in the government's best interest.

 

[Jenny Jones]

You know, someone who has the extreme political view of shutting a program like this down would most likely be monitored. We have all said something we're not too proud of either on the internet or on the telephone to a friend, it wouldn't be outside the realms of possibility to think those in charge of PRISM would try to discredit a threat to them by prying into their lives.

Also I have heard a lot of Mr Obama saying don't worry we don't spy on innocent Americans blah blah. What about those of us in other countries? I'm not exactly happy about the prospects of my private chats with my friends being watched by the NSA and then pawned off to the GCHQ.

 

[SexyGarfield]

You do know the constitution doesn't give you the 'right to privacy,' right?

The closest thing it has is the right against unreasonable searches and seizures and the right against soldiers being quartered in your home, and something being for the sake of national security goes a long way towards being considered reasonable.

The fourth amendment gives private entities the right to security of person and papers, if data isn't the modern equivalent to papers I don't know what is. The constitution applies to to all persons, private companies included[1]. You are more likely to be killed by a cop than a terrorist[2]. Do we see a blind fevered push towards overhauling police procedures?

Further more, "national security" is a vague blanket term nowadays for any sort act that someone in a high enough government position of power doesn't like. The FISA court has ruled NSA surveillance ?unreasonable under the fourth amendment"[3], yet the the judicial branch is going along like nothing happened. No policy review/revision, just business as usual.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood
[2] http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/06/fear-of-terror-makes-people-stupid.html
[3] http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/07/surveillance-spirit-law/

 

[lacktheknack]

Good grief. Now the United States is having a chilly staring contest with Russia... and I'm going to Russia on a missionary trip next year...

My "worst case scenario" just got a whole lot worse.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Why is America called "Land of the Free"? It seems an awful place, shootings right left and center, corruption, greed and stupidity. Honestly, maybe the people should rise up against the government and form one that acts humanly.

Get Em Up Against The Wall

Great. Lavabit was my email provider. I always thought it would be the right wingers that would turn the US into a fascist dictatorship. Silly old me eh?

If I had my way I'd have all of them shot.

Incidentally I saw The Wall in Melbourne