[jonathanstrange]

People also sometimes forget in this debate that the NSA is allowed and has a mandate to spy on non-US citizens and companies as they deem fit. Anything is allowed, including mass surveillance and hacking into systems. There are only restrictions when US citizens and companies are involved. European agencies probably have similar permissions but I don't think they have comparable capabilities and they also have and will continue to have smaller budgets.

[Fnoord]

Do you really think if the NSA is not allowed to do something, that they'll be held accountable? In 2026? I doubt it very much so. The USA sits on a lot of data from EU, and that is a bad situation. We also need to stop selling important companies such as Nexperia (to CN) and Zivver (to USA).

[throwaway_7423]

> Do you really think if the NSA is not allowed to do something, that they'll be held accountable? In 2026?

I know more than a few career lawyers who worked or currently work at NSA. It would blow your mind how rigidly they follow the laws and rules when it comes to US citizens.

Of course I don't expect you to believe me because "I said so" or anything like that. I can tell you definitively that when it comes to US citizens NSA is pretty neutered.

You may be thinking of the FBI...

[Fnoord]

The most fun proof this isn't the case is Keith Alexander lying in congress with 'not willingly' which is something completely different from 'not knowingly'. The NSA uses loopholes in laws and back around Snowden they played the card of using one European Union country versus another.