Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by dm2 4780 days ago
More than likely they are.

It is never read by humans though unless flagged.

And hopefully there are checks-and-balances in place to alert others if a government employee is accessing data about someone that he personally knows.

It's not as easy as "only save texts with the words bomb and weed in them". It's all saved, then analyzed, then retained a few years, then eventually deleted. Is that acceptable for the US government to do?
2 comments
jlarocco 4780 days ago
No, it's not. If a person isn't suspected of a crime the government shouldn't be searching or collecting any of their information. This isn't China or North Korea, we're supposed to be a free country.

It's also amusing how sure you seem about some things, while also adding in a few "hopefully"-s here and there. The truth is, you don't have any idea what they're doing because they don't tell anybody.

link
D9u 4780 days ago
The truth is, you don't have any idea what they're doing because they don't tell anybody.

Well, the US government did grant immunity to the big TelComs for their participation in the "Domestic" surveillance program a few years ago...

That tells me all I need to know.

RedPhone anyone? http://www.whispersystems.org/

link
betterunix 4780 days ago
"It is never read by humans though unless flagged."

With the criteria for being "flagged" remaining secret. Are you a dissident? Now the government can make your life difficult by leaking information about your brief extramarital affair. Maybe the government will concoct a sexual assault case against you to shut you up.

link
dm2 4780 days ago
Maybe there should be government whistle-blower laws to try to prevent these kinds of things from happening.
link
betterunix 4780 days ago
It's not just about whistleblowers or Wikileaks. What about the guy who is critical of US government policies and is gaining a large following? What about the guy who organizes a boycott against a well-connected corporation or industry? What about independent politicians? What about protesters and activists? Almost all adults have some embarrassing secret that might undermine their credibility in the court of public opinion.
link