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The "big catch" is what makes all that cooperation possible. GHCQ just happens to be spying on Americans and then giving the information to the NSA; the NSA re
by betterunix 13y ago
The "big catch" is what makes all that cooperation possible. GHCQ just happens to be spying on Americans and then giving the information to the NSA; the NSA returns the favor with a wink and a nod. Sure, nobody ever demanded that the other side do this, but both sides know that if they continue to give each other these "presents" then they can continue to exploit the loophole.
- mpyne 13y ago> GHCQ just happens to be spying on Americans and then giving the information to the NSA; the NSA returns the favor with a wink and a nod. There are about 300 million Americans. How does GCHQ know which ones to spill the beans on? It can't simply be all the information as NSA would then still need to choose which ones to look at, which would require a separate warrant to "look", even under their surreal logic. It can't be a specific person directed by NSA, as that makes GCHQ an agent of the U.S. government.
- FBT 13y ago"Wink, wink, nudge nudge; I'm not telling you you to spy on this list of people, but it sure would be convenient..."
- mpyne 13y agoI'm not arguing it's hard to get around in practice, but it is illegal. As with every other time we mention NSA, if you're going to assume they will break the law as a matter of course then you must leave the Internet immediately or face spying. :P On the other hand if you want to posit that being easy to break the law is reason enough to burn all the transatlantic fiber so that GCHQ can't cooperate with NSA then simply say so, it's at least theoretically a defensible starting point for a debate.