Saw a > Alert streaming across the screen on CNN earlier and it said NSA Data Collection was to start shutting down at 4:59 p.m. today.

 

Patriot Act set to expire at midnight.

FWIW I think anything learned from surveillance via Patriot Act Surveillance has been a closely guarded secret. No reason to alert those being investigated as to what is being found and how. I think several of the arrest over the past decade of suspected terrorist or "Lone Wolf" types here in the United States were probably caught due to PA information...but it was reported as being by some other means as to hide the methods from others that are being watched.

 

I would say our kids or grandkids will be the first to actually learn of successes or failures of the past decade plus of national security.

I'm not sure exactly what freedom I am giving up by the NSA, FBI, CIA or anyone else knowing what phone numbers I have called or received calls from...after all the phone company knows who I call and how long and how often.

 

I think it was PurplePride92 that said once, that he just assumed they were already collecting that stuff and knew who we were calling...I was kinda the same way, I always figured that info was readily available as needed anyway.

Again, show me where the SCOTUS has declared the Patriot Act un-constitutional.

 

And.......

 

Officials: Surveillance programs foiled more than 50 terrorist plots - The Washington Post

 

So, I guess I am not 100% incorrect.

 

Yes, you actually are. You just googled "NSA foils terrorist plot" and posted the first article that fits your narrative without actually researching it.

 

If you did, you'd realize that Keith Alexander, the NSA chief who made that claim, admittedly inflated those numbers:

 

Pressed by the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing, Gen. Keith B. Alexander admitted that the number of terrorist plots foiled by the NSA’s huge database of every phone call made in or to America was only one or perhaps two — far smaller than the 54 originally claimed by the administration.

 

NSA chief's admission of misleading numbers adds to Obama administration blunders - Washington Times

 

This whole debate is happening because the NSA or the FBI have not been able to justify the bulk collection of data.

 

And the means for the bulk collection of data is what the Second Circuit court, the court below the Supreme Court, is what they deemed illegal.

I'm not sure exactly what freedom I am giving up by the NSA, FBI, CIA or anyone else knowing what phone numbers I have called or received calls from...after all the phone company knows who I call and how long and how often.

 

I think it was PurplePride92 that said once, that he just assumed they were already collecting that stuff and knew who we were calling...I was kinda the same way, I always figured that info was readily available as needed anyway.

 

The right to be left alone is considered by some to be the most cherished and prized.

 

The 4th amendment is just as important as the 1st, 2nd, etc.

The right to be left alone is considered by some to be the most cherished and prized.

 

The 4th amendment is just as important as the 1st, 2nd, etc.

 

AT&T has those records already or whoever your phone carrier is...what is the difference? I have no issue with the info being collected and held as long as it takes a warrant to access it if it's needed later.

 

If another 9/11 were to occur it would be handy I'd think if we could then look backwards and see who the terrorist were in contact with in the weeks and months prior to the attack. If you can't start collecting the data until after the fact you'd have very little chance of tracking down any others that may be involved.

 

As I said, collect it and hold it and only use it under court order approved by a judge.

I don't care if the Patriot Act is killed or repealed that's fine...my only point is that it seems a lot of people are getting worked up because someone has a record of how many times they called their grandma...I just don't see that alone as something to get worked up over.

Edited May 31, 201511 yr by Jumper_Dad

AT&T has those records already or whoever your phone carrier is...what is the difference? I have no issue with the info being collected and held as long as it takes a warrant to access it if it's needed later.

 

If another 9/11 were to occur it would be handy I'd think if we could then look backwards and see who the terrorist were in contact with in the weeks and months prior to the attack. If you can't start collecting the data until after the fact you'd have very little chance of tracking down any others that may be involved.

 

As I said, collect it and hold it and only use it under court order approved by a judge.

 

The problem is that the government has a unfettered access to these records and they aren't getting an individualized warrant.

 

By the parameters you just set, the NSA isn't abiding by them.

I have a serious problem with another government agency collecting my most sensitive and private information. We've already seen Obama's IRS and the DOJ go after political opponents.

I have a serious problem with another government agency collecting my most sensitive and private information. We've already seen Obama's IRS and the DOJ go after political opponents.

 

What would you consider your most private and sensitive information?

What would you consider your most private and sensitive information?

 

Organizations that you donate money to.

Organizations that you donate money to.

 

A lot of that (but not all) is already tracked due to IRS regulations and has been for a long time. If you donate cash or with money order it would be hard for anyone to track it any way.

 

If your giving to a candidate or PAC they have to keep records of contributions and file them quarterly already. If your giving to group that is Tax-Exempt they have those records in case you want to claim the donation later on your taxes.

What would you consider your most private and sensitive information?

 

Everything on my phone. It contains virtually everything about me.

This is the new debate. How much do we give up in the name of terrorism protection?

 

Good question, how much do the terrorist care about our rights. Are they not doing the things some dont want our government to do?

Everything on my phone. It contains virtually everything about me.

 

Has it even been rumored that any of that info was being collected, outside of how many times you call your girlfriend and order pizza is anything else being taken from our phones? I'm asking because if it is I hadn't heard anything about it.