10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Set back to NSA spying!

by joseph7384
7 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
In a stinging rebuke to President Barack Obama's surveillance policies, a federal judge on Monday branded the National Security Agency's mass collection of Americans' telephone data "almost Orwellian" and likely a violation of the Constitution. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden cheered the ruling.

Appeals Court Judge Richard Leon invoked Founding Father James Madison and the Beatles in a frequently scathing ruling. Leon, appointed by then-President George W. Bush, ordered the government to halt bulk collection of so-called telephony metadata and destroy information already collected through that program. But he suspended his order as the case works its way through the courts.

"I cannot imagine a more 'indiscriminate' and 'abitrary invasion' than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen for purposes of querying and analyzing it without prior judicial approval," Leon wrote.
Source: Judge: NSA spying
  • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
    I'm hoping to see Snowden in the crowd at the upcoming Olympics. I'm sure Putin is setting up a sideshow right now.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8792585].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    But the article also says that the judge then suspended his own ruling that the NSA delete all the phone data gathered, as there will be appeal after appeal after appeal, so don't say anything on the telephone you wouldn't want NSA to know about.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8793553].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Yeah - would definitely like to know what the suspension of the ruling was about. Hopefully it was some sort of technicality that will work for us in the long run. It's only suspended, not dropped so something else is going on with it right now. Would be nice if it is about slapping criminal charges on a few people.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8793927].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Yeah - would definitely like to know what the suspension of the ruling was about. Hopefully it was some sort of technicality that will work for us in the long run. It's only suspended, not dropped so something else is going on with it right now. Would be nice if it is about slapping criminal charges on a few people.
      The article said he suspended it because he knew his word wasn't final and it would go to higher courts before it's over.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8793965].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        The article said he suspended it because he knew his word wasn't final and it would go to higher courts before it's over.
        That's what I figured. I'm also wondering if they're going to draw Holder into it during his impeachment hearings. Keeping the judgement open will make that easier if they are going to implicate him in it in any way.
        Signature

        Sal
        When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
        Beyond the Path

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8793997].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Kay King
          It's a good ruling but I wonder if it will stand. Oddly I think the end of appeals process will back up this ruling but it may be a long road to get there.

          The next court it goes to is one with several recently appointed judges - more likely to go with the D.C. version of this case. I think the govt will get by with this unless people speak out and pay attention for as long as the appeals last.
          Signature
          Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
          ***
          Live life like someone left the gate open
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8794146].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8802153].message }}

Trending Topics