Obama Admits New Security Tactics Not In American's Best Interests

Seil · 06-10-2013, 11:42 PM

Link - NSA Surveillance Tactics against Google, Microsoft and Facebook.
Link 2 - Obama beefs up cyber security
Link 3 - Obama mentions drone attacks killing civilians

I was actually thinking that Obama was pushing a bill that would allow the government to read personal emails and check out your Facebook and the like, but now I'm totally lost and have no idea what I'm looking for.

There was a clip on CNN I saw briefly about an address that Obama gave on cyber-security and how their latest ideas on protection were not exactly in the best interests of the American people. Looking in on it, I can say that the American government is actually beefing up their cyber-security, but I don't know if they'll go all Nixon and read private files and record conversations and the like.

Can someone give me a really simplified idea of what the American government is doing here?

Magus · 06-12-2013, 10:30 AM

Obama if I remember was actually pushing for a bill that would require stricter oversight of his abilities to surveil/assassinate people, but Republicans will not go ahead with it because if they get a president in there they want those abilities to still exist.

Currently under the Patriot Act the NSA's wire-tapping activities are basically rubber stamped by a court and assassinating people is basically entirely within the control of the executive branch under war powers granted to the office of the presidency after 9/11.

Just recently it was discovered that the NSA has basically looked at millions of emails and telephone call information for the past several years, despite the NSA head testifying to congress that it does not do that. This was brought to light by the whistleblower Edward Snowden who is currently hiding out in Hong Kong. For example, the NSA just recently subpoenaed 3 months worth of telephone records from Verizon for every single one of their millions of customers. This was leaked to the press last week I think.

EDIT: Also I don't know about those other two stories but Alex Jones of Prison Planet is a crackpot. You would be better off ignoring that site completely.

I'm sure the Guardian or the New York Times has covered the NSA wiretapping scandal recently.

ANOTHER EDIT: Like when you say, "Obama is pushing for a bill to read your emails or Facebook", the government already has that bill and is already reading your emails and your Facebook since September 2001. The only bill Obama was pushing for was a bill that would curb his powers to some degree, not increase them. He already has total power to look at your email or assassinate you when he wants (well, assuming you are located on foreign soil at the time).

As a Canadian citizen they would already be allowed to spy on you anyway, it was just the Patriot Act allows them to now do it to American citizens.

06-10-2013, 11:42 PM	#1
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Obama Admits New Security Tactics Not In American's Best Interests Link - NSA Surveillance Tactics against Google, Microsoft and Facebook. Link 2 - Obama beefs up cyber security Link 3 - Obama mentions drone attacks killing civilians I was actually thinking that Obama was pushing a bill that would allow the government to read personal emails and check out your Facebook and the like, but now I'm totally lost and have no idea what I'm looking for. There was a clip on CNN I saw briefly about an address that Obama gave on cyber-security and how their latest ideas on protection were not exactly in the best interests of the American people. Looking in on it, I can say that the American government is actually beefing up their cyber-security, but I don't know if they'll go all Nixon and read private files and record conversations and the like. Can someone give me a really simplified idea of what the American government is doing here?

06-12-2013, 10:30 AM	#2
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	Obama if I remember was actually pushing for a bill that would require stricter oversight of his abilities to surveil/assassinate people, but Republicans will not go ahead with it because if they get a president in there they want those abilities to still exist. Currently under the Patriot Act the NSA's wire-tapping activities are basically rubber stamped by a court and assassinating people is basically entirely within the control of the executive branch under war powers granted to the office of the presidency after 9/11. Just recently it was discovered that the NSA has basically looked at millions of emails and telephone call information for the past several years, despite the NSA head testifying to congress that it does not do that. This was brought to light by the whistleblower Edward Snowden who is currently hiding out in Hong Kong. For example, the NSA just recently subpoenaed 3 months worth of telephone records from Verizon for every single one of their millions of customers. This was leaked to the press last week I think. EDIT: Also I don't know about those other two stories but Alex Jones of Prison Planet is a crackpot. You would be better off ignoring that site completely. I'm sure the Guardian or the New York Times has covered the NSA wiretapping scandal recently. ANOTHER EDIT: Like when you say, "Obama is pushing for a bill to read your emails or Facebook", the government already has that bill and is already reading your emails and your Facebook since September 2001. The only bill Obama was pushing for was a bill that would curb his powers to some degree, not increase them. He already has total power to look at your email or assassinate you when he wants (well, assuming you are located on foreign soil at the time). As a Canadian citizen they would already be allowed to spy on you anyway, it was just the Patriot Act allows them to now do it to American citizens. Last edited by Magus; 06-12-2013 at 10:37 AM.