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Key quote: "According to the Justice Department’s inspector general, the FBI issued a staggering 143,074 NSLs between 2003 and 2005. And every NSL was accompan

Key quote: "According to the Justice Department’s inspector general, the FBI issued a staggering 143,074 NSLs between 2003 and 2005. And every NSL was accompanied by a categorical and permanent gag order." That's almost one per 2000 americans. I wonder how does this number compare to actual court orders.

jacquesm 11y ago
And that's just about 3 years, imagine how high the number must be by now.
scrollaway 11y ago
Another key quote: > I found it particularly difficult to be silent about my concerns while Congress was debating the reauthorization of the Patriot Act in 2005 and early 2006. If I hadn't been under a gag order, I would have contacted members of Congress to discuss my experiences and to advocate changes in the law. The inspector general's report confirms that Congress lacked a complete picture of the problem during a critical time: Even though the NSL statute requires the director of the FBI to fully inform members of the House and Senate about all requests issued under the statute, the FBI significantly underrepresented the number of NSL requests in 2003, 2004 and 2005, according to the report.
- eric_h 11y ago
  Wow - it's astonishing that you can't even speak about NSLs with people who (or at least some of whom) have top secret clearance...
  - caseysoftware 11y ago
    Just because you're cleared in one area/agency doesn't mean you have access to anything of that level or lower. Clearances are entirely need to know. I'm not sure of the rules today, but 10 years ago clearances in some agencies/departments didn't even transfer to other agencies due to differing requirements. (I'm not saying that this system is good, just describing how it works.)
    - eric_h 11y ago
      Thank you for the clarification. Nevertheless, I feel like there should be some recourse in the system to appeal to a branch of government other than the secret judicial branch in circumstances like this...
      - simoncion 11y ago
        You can always choose to be a whistleblower, and hope that what you have to say motivates someone powerful to protect you from the life-destroying shitstorm that will be dropped on your head.
    - simoncion 11y ago
      > ...clearances in some agencies/departments didn't even transfer to other agencies due to differing requirements. AFAIK, this is still true. Compartmentalized clearances can have all sorts of fun and exciting restrictions.
deleted 11y ago
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jacquesm 11y ago

And that's just about 3 years, imagine how high the number must be by now.

scrollaway 11y ago

Another key quote: > I found it particularly difficult to be silent about my concerns while Congress was debating the reauthorization of the Patriot Act in 2005 and early 2006. If I hadn't been under a gag order, I would have contacted members of Congress to discuss my experiences and to advocate changes in the law. The inspector general's report confirms that Congress lacked a complete picture of the problem during a critical time: Even though the NSL statute requires the director of the FBI to fully inform members of the House and Senate about all requests issued under the statute, the FBI significantly underrepresented the number of NSL requests in 2003, 2004 and 2005, according to the report.

eric_h 11y ago
Wow - it's astonishing that you can't even speak about NSLs with people who (or at least some of whom) have top secret clearance...
- caseysoftware 11y ago
  Just because you're cleared in one area/agency doesn't mean you have access to anything of that level or lower. Clearances are entirely need to know. I'm not sure of the rules today, but 10 years ago clearances in some agencies/departments didn't even transfer to other agencies due to differing requirements. (I'm not saying that this system is good, just describing how it works.)
  - eric_h 11y ago
    Thank you for the clarification. Nevertheless, I feel like there should be some recourse in the system to appeal to a branch of government other than the secret judicial branch in circumstances like this...
    - simoncion 11y ago
      You can always choose to be a whistleblower, and hope that what you have to say motivates someone powerful to protect you from the life-destroying shitstorm that will be dropped on your head.
  - simoncion 11y ago
    > ...clearances in some agencies/departments didn't even transfer to other agencies due to differing requirements. AFAIK, this is still true. Compartmentalized clearances can have all sorts of fun and exciting restrictions.

deleted 11y ago

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