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Imagine if you were listening in to communications on US citizens as part of an NSA program and you came across what appeared to be the distinct planning of a m
by jusben1369 13y ago
Imagine if you were listening in to communications on US citizens as part of an NSA program and you came across what appeared to be the distinct planning of a murder - one that had nothing to do with National Security now or in the future. What do you do? This is part of the interesting range of unexpected consequences when you stretch boundaries.
- walshemj 13y agoThis is the premise of person of interest - does raise some interesting moral questions for TLA officers.
- TeMPOraL 13y agoJust watched full 2 seasons after recent HN recommendation. "Person of Interest" is a good series, and in some moments not-so-suprisingly-now scary.
- rdtsc 13y agoBefore the leak -- nothing probably. It would have revealed the existence of the program. Now -- sure! They could just come knocking to the door. This is dark side of the leaks in way. If they know we know, they they can expand the use of the tool. (Or rather I should say this is the dark side of apathy to the information in the leaks, now they now public doesn't care enough).
- cavilling_elite 13y agoThe apathy is the scary part. I fear it would take a mass roundup of people before the "we need this because of X" people might start questioning it. OTOH, it may be mental (illness?) for people to blindly follow authority.
- Wingman4l7 13y agoIsn't this practically the plot of The Conversation?
- simoncion 13y agoNo. The Conversation is a private spook doing surveillance.
- Wingman4l7 13y agotomato, tomahto -- your comment does make me wonder just how much the NSA contracts out its surveillance though. Remember, Snowden was working for Booz Allen Hamilton, not the NSA.
- simoncion 13y agoWords mean things. They form the basis of our laws. It is legal for a private spook to be hired by private persons or corporations to spy on others. It is illegal for a spook of any flavor to be hired by the government to spy on USians without a warrant or similar device.
- Wingman4l7 13y agoYour last statement is really what all the fuss is about, though -- the government is trying to contravene how most sane people would interpret the Constitution, and legalize such activities.