…or to use techniques or devices (presumably provided by the NSA) to copy and turn over entire communications streams and/or repositories of stored communications, which would inevitably include vast quantities of wholly domestic communications. 14/25
The NSA, having wholesale access to domestic communications on an unprecedented scale, would then be on the “honor system” to pull out and retain only the communications of approved foreign targets. (Let that sink in.) 15/25
HPSCI leaders deny that the administration has any intent to use this provision so broadly. Supposedly, there is a single type of service provider that the government wants to rope in. But they didn’t want anyone to know what that service provider was… 16/25
…so they hid the real goal by writing the amendment as broadly and vaguely as possible. But no worries, Americans! The administration isn’t actually going to USE all the power it just persuaded the House to give it. 17/25
I cannot overstate how mindblowingly irresponsible that is. I don’t think *any* administration should be trusted with an Orwellian power like this one. But even if *this* administration doesn’t plan to make full use of it… (Go ahead and fill in the blank.) 18/25
There are certain powers a government should not have in a democracy. The ability to force ordinary businesses and individuals to serve as surrogate spies is one of them. Even if the targets are supposed to be foreigners, a power this sweeping WILL be abused. 19/25
By the way, when a privacy advocate tried to get @jahimes to engage on this issue, here is the thoughtful and conscientious reply given by the ranking member of HPSCI, a man who clearly cares deeply about civil liberties. 20/25 x.com/jahimes/status…
By the way, when a privacy advocate tried to get @jahimes to engage on this issue, here is the thoughtful and conscientious reply given by the ranking member of HPSCI, a man who clearly cares deeply about civil liberties. 20/25 x.com/jahimes/status…
The Senate MUST stop this train before it is too late. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the House-passed bill this week. If there’s an opportunity to remove this provision, senators should remove it. If not, they should vote against the bill. 21/25
The White House will tell senators they have no choice other than to pass the House bill, because Section 702 expires on April 19, and trying to fix the House bill—or pass different legislation—would take too long. But the April 19 deadline exists only on paper. 22/25
The administration has already obtained FISA Court approval to continue Section 702 surveillance until April 2025. According to the administration itself, that approval “grandfathers” surveillance for a full year, even if Section 702 expires. 23/25 news.bgov.com/bloomberg-gove…
A notional deadline is no reason to create a surveillance state. The Senate must take the time to get this right. It’s not just our civil liberties that are at stake—it’s our democracy. @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell… 24/25
@LizaGoitein @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell I agree with the substance of your post, but we’re a republic, not a democracy.🤔
@LizaGoitein @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell Yes, but you misspelled R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C.
@LizaGoitein @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell We're NOT a Democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic. But, you know that, don't you?
@LizaGoitein @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell I’d prefer that you say: “it’s our republic”
@LizaGoitein @Snowden @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell It's quite simple really. Just repeal FISA entirely.
@LizaGoitein @SenatorBennet @SenatorBooker @SenSherrodBrown @Senlaphonza @SenatorCantwell As often seen in my Replies, my experience is - and documentation corroborates - that we already have an arrogant, abusive, and unaccountable surveillance state. They just want to make it worse.