[Karunamon]

Depends on your end goal. If the goal is actually what's stated, I.e. stopping terrorists, there is no value.

If the actual goal is to produce a massive database of citizen activities for later (ab)use, then there is a huge benefit for the government.

Since all of the evidence seems to point to scenario #2 (since there is no good reason that tracking those eeeevul turrists) requires all this information from innocent people, I think we can safely assume their excuse is a shitty facade.

[pjnewton]

I'm really hoping this is cloaked sarcasm...

[Karunamon]

? The databases being collected are much more suited to harassing innocents than capturing terrorists. You disagree?

[pjnewton]

I disagree that there is some anti-American nefariousness going on with this data collection mess.

[flyinRyan]

Oh they very likely believe they are the best patriots. Just as Hoover did.