In case you have not heard, as of midnight last night several of the mass collection of data programs used in the collection of intelligence for dealing with terrorism/terrorists expired. Some version of these programs will be soon restored, but the original omnibus use of the PATRIOT Act and other counter-terrorism acts to create collection programs is now done. Did allowing these programs to lapse change anything?
For my two cents, nothing changed last night at midnight. While I may shout hallelujah because my civil liberties are for the moment technically more protected, I also know the reality of the behavior of governments and government agencies. First, how long will it take to "shut down" the collection program? While the program may actually be removed by the flick of a switch, how do you authorize actually turning the collection program off? How many meetings and how many memos have to exchange hands before someone finally sends out the memo that says turn the computer program off that collects the phone calls? Second, since some form of these programs will be accepted by congress soon, will there be any lapse in the collection? Third, really do you really believe that agencies that spy on people will actually quit spying on people. These types of collection programs have been used for decades, not just since 2001, Snowden may have made it public so it had to be recognized by the masses, but sentient human beings realized that the government has "listened" to our private conversations for much longer.
But hey, ya'll go ahead and believe what you want about the government not collecting "intelligence" without authorization from the congress.
For my two cents, nothing changed last night at midnight. While I may shout hallelujah because my civil liberties are for the moment technically more protected, I also know the reality of the behavior of governments and government agencies. First, how long will it take to "shut down" the collection program? While the program may actually be removed by the flick of a switch, how do you authorize actually turning the collection program off? How many meetings and how many memos have to exchange hands before someone finally sends out the memo that says turn the computer program off that collects the phone calls? Second, since some form of these programs will be accepted by congress soon, will there be any lapse in the collection? Third, really do you really believe that agencies that spy on people will actually quit spying on people. These types of collection programs have been used for decades, not just since 2001, Snowden may have made it public so it had to be recognized by the masses, but sentient human beings realized that the government has "listened" to our private conversations for much longer.
But hey, ya'll go ahead and believe what you want about the government not collecting "intelligence" without authorization from the congress.
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