NSA v The Internet

For John, BLUF:  When I call somewhere and they say the call is recorded, I wonder if they have contracted it out to NSA.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From the web site Common Dreams we have "The NSA Has Taken Over the Internet Backbone.  We're Suing to Get it Back.".  This is from ACLU Lawyer Patrick Toomey.

Every time you email someone overseas, the NSA copies and searches your message.  It makes no difference if you or the person you're communicating with has done anything wrong. v If the NSA believes your message could contain information relating to the foreign affairs of the United States – because of whom you're talking to, or whom you're talking about – it may hold on to it for as long as three years and sometimes much longer.

A new ACLU lawsuit filed today challenges this dragnet spying, called "upstream" surveillance, on behalf of Wikimedia and a broad coalition of educational, human rights, legal, and media organizations whose work depends on the privacy of their communications.  The plaintiffs include Amnesty International USA, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and The Nation magazine, and many other organizations whose work is critical to the functioning of our democracy.

I expect this will fall into an infinity of mirrors and disappear, but it is something for Citizens to be interested in.

Regards  —  Cliff