7 ms·

Why is this surprising to anyone? It's time to realize that our own law enforcement is a greater threat to us than terrorists abroad. This behavior needs to be

Why is this surprising to anyone? It's time to realize that our own law enforcement is a greater threat to us than terrorists abroad. This behavior needs to be made illegal.

jimrandomh 10y ago
It is already illegal. This behavior needs to be punished.
tetrep 10y ago
> “This is the first time I have seen language this explicit in an FBI non-disclosure agreement,” Nate Wessler, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project...
programmarchy 10y ago
> law enforcement a greater threat > made illegal See a problem here?
roywiggins 10y ago
Surprising, no. Surprising to see it in writing from the FBI? Yeah, a little.
- StanislavPetrov 10y ago
  The unfortunate fact is that the FBI doesn't mind putting it in writing because any vestige of justice on our legal system has been swept away. Agents of the government understand that they are completely above the law, so much so that they don't even bother going through the motions anymore to pretend otherwise.
  - losteric 10y ago
    OK, so given that the general populous is now starting to acknowledge this abuse of power... how do we fix it? All three branches of governance are falling outside the public's control and people no longer vote with a long-term and open mind. How do we get people to step down the vitriol and work with each other towards the common good?
    - meddlepal 10y ago
      You don't and you can't. You accept it and adjust behavior accordingly.
    - rhizome 10y ago
      The general populace isn't starting to acknowledge the abuse. Some niches are, though, and that's why we even are able to talk about parallel construction in this much detail. It still requires people to read court transcripts and find these nuggets of information about law enforcement practices and policies, after which they tell whoever is listening (typically on Twitter in my experience).
TaylorAlexander 10y ago
This comment is on every post where something like this is revealed. Yes, we "all" have known that parallel reconstruction has been going on. Except for the skeptics who require hard evidence of its occurrence. Well, now we have evidence. This isn't about the practice being surprising. It's about the practice finally being documented.
- Semiapies 10y ago
  It hasn't been "finally" documented, the documentation has been out for almost three years.
- neilk 10y ago
  Yep. "Why is this surprising?" There are reasons to discuss it other than surprise. Better evidence may allow for official reactions, inquiries, or prosecutions. "Is anyone so naive that..." Yes, we weep for our lost innocence. Now we see that your jaded nihilism was justified all along. Forgive us. "Of course, nobody really cares..." Back that up with stats. Are you sure nobody cares? Are you sure that is a permanent state of affairs? If you're also asking "Why is anyone surprised?" that's acknowledging we've got a delta in collective interest here, so the complaint is self-canceling. And how many people's attention is needed? A very vocal and effective 5% of the population can get a lot done. "Of course, nobody can do anything..." Despite various pronouncements of the end of history, things continue to happen.
  - themartorana 10y ago
    Just to your last point, history ends for most of us when we expire. It is hard for me to see, possibly halfway through my life, when or how this course corrects, considering the current balance of money and power.
- darpa_escapee 10y ago
  I have yet to encounter a person who doesn't keep a pulse on tech / security and also believes parallel construction exists. 95% of Snowden revelations are still in conspiracy theory territory and aren't even Snopes worthy to most.
NoMoreNicksLeft 10y ago
It's already illegal by any sane interpretation of the law. What does it even mean to make law enforcement behavior "illegal"? Who would enforce it? Obviously those in charge are either happy with it as it is or feel powerless to stop it.
hawleyal 10y ago
It is illegal.

Why is this surprising to anyone? It's time to realize that our own law enforcement is a greater threat to us than terrorists abroad. This behavior needs to be made illegal.

jimrandomh 10y ago

It is already illegal. This behavior needs to be punished.

tetrep 10y ago

> “This is the first time I have seen language this explicit in an FBI non-disclosure agreement,” Nate Wessler, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project...

programmarchy 10y ago

> law enforcement a greater threat > made illegal See a problem here?

roywiggins 10y ago

Surprising, no. Surprising to see it in writing from the FBI? Yeah, a little.

StanislavPetrov 10y ago
The unfortunate fact is that the FBI doesn't mind putting it in writing because any vestige of justice on our legal system has been swept away. Agents of the government understand that they are completely above the law, so much so that they don't even bother going through the motions anymore to pretend otherwise.
- losteric 10y ago
  OK, so given that the general populous is now starting to acknowledge this abuse of power... how do we fix it? All three branches of governance are falling outside the public's control and people no longer vote with a long-term and open mind. How do we get people to step down the vitriol and work with each other towards the common good?
  - meddlepal 10y ago
    You don't and you can't. You accept it and adjust behavior accordingly.
  - rhizome 10y ago
    The general populace isn't starting to acknowledge the abuse. Some niches are, though, and that's why we even are able to talk about parallel construction in this much detail. It still requires people to read court transcripts and find these nuggets of information about law enforcement practices and policies, after which they tell whoever is listening (typically on Twitter in my experience).

TaylorAlexander 10y ago

This comment is on every post where something like this is revealed. Yes, we "all" have known that parallel reconstruction has been going on. Except for the skeptics who require hard evidence of its occurrence. Well, now we have evidence. This isn't about the practice being surprising. It's about the practice finally being documented.

Semiapies 10y ago
It hasn't been "finally" documented, the documentation has been out for almost three years.
neilk 10y ago
Yep. "Why is this surprising?" There are reasons to discuss it other than surprise. Better evidence may allow for official reactions, inquiries, or prosecutions. "Is anyone so naive that..." Yes, we weep for our lost innocence. Now we see that your jaded nihilism was justified all along. Forgive us. "Of course, nobody really cares..." Back that up with stats. Are you sure nobody cares? Are you sure that is a permanent state of affairs? If you're also asking "Why is anyone surprised?" that's acknowledging we've got a delta in collective interest here, so the complaint is self-canceling. And how many people's attention is needed? A very vocal and effective 5% of the population can get a lot done. "Of course, nobody can do anything..." Despite various pronouncements of the end of history, things continue to happen.
- themartorana 10y ago
  Just to your last point, history ends for most of us when we expire. It is hard for me to see, possibly halfway through my life, when or how this course corrects, considering the current balance of money and power.
darpa_escapee 10y ago
I have yet to encounter a person who doesn't keep a pulse on tech / security and also believes parallel construction exists. 95% of Snowden revelations are still in conspiracy theory territory and aren't even Snopes worthy to most.

NoMoreNicksLeft 10y ago

It's already illegal by any sane interpretation of the law. What does it even mean to make law enforcement behavior "illegal"? Who would enforce it? Obviously those in charge are either happy with it as it is or feel powerless to stop it.

hawleyal 10y ago

It is illegal.