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Of course they'll share it. First, non-citizens are usually even less protected than citizens. Second, secret services are also extralegal services as long as t
by corty 5y ago
Of course they'll share it. First, non-citizens are usually even less protected than citizens. Second, secret services are also extralegal services as long as they can get away with it. Third, if they get caught, they won't be punished.
German example: The BND has been caught spying on all Germans' communication (most probably still does so), as well as connections to foreign countries. They are only supposed to watch foreign countries. So they came up with a legal theory, called "Weltraumtheorie", where satellites are in space, so outside the jurisdiction of any state. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltraumtheorie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltraumtheorie
Later on, when this got out, it was just legalized and extended to fibre connections, because, well, that just replaces space, doesn't it?...
- danuker 5y agoDoesn't this backfire? As in, you are free to commit wire fraud, because of this similarity to "international waters"?
- corty 5y agoTheoretically. Practically, that legal theory is just a smokescreen for the willingness of the government to overlook any misdeeds by the secret services. Prosecutors and courts got the hint and didn't investigate any further. However, if you are a non-state-sponsored criminal, of course you will be prosecuted. "Qvod licet iovi, non licet bovi" is a very important legal principle ;) Also, later on, the government just legalized what the BND was doing, thereby invalidating any future attempt at prosecution for that past crime against the BND. Yet still maintaining the illegality for everyone else.