Tom Mitchelhill – Cointelegraph Apr 16, 2024
The United States National Security Agency (NSA) is only days away from “taking over the internet” with a massive expansion of its surveillance powers, according to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
In an April 16 post to X, Snowden drew attention to a thread originally posted by Elizabeth Goitein — the co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice — that warned of a new bill that could see the U.S. government surveillance powers amplified to new levels.
The NSA is just 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 from taking over the internet, and it's not on the front page of any newspaper–because no one has noticed. https://t.co/qp5BimwOjI
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 15, 2024
Source: Edward Snowden
The bill in question reforms and extends a part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) known as Section 702.
Currently, the NSA can force internet service providers such as Google and Verizon to hand over sensitive data concerning NSA targets.
However, Goitein claims that through an “innocuous change” to the definition of “electronic communications surveillance provider” in the FISA 702 bill, the U.S. government could go far beyond its current scope and force nearly every company and individual that provides any internet-related service to assist with NSA surveillance.
“That sweeps in an enormous range of U.S. businesses that provide wifi to their customers and therefore have access to equipment on which communications transit. Barber shops, laundromats, fitness centers, hardware stores, dentist’s offices.”
Additionally, the people forced to hand over data would be unable to discuss the information provided due to hefty gag order penalties and conditions outlined in the bill, added Goitein.
If the bill becomes law, any company or individual that provides ANY service whatsoever may be forced to assist in NSA surveillance, as long as they have access to equipment on which communications are transmitted or stored—such as routers, servers, cell towers, etc. 6/25
— Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) April 15, 2024
Source: Elizabeth Goitein
The bill initially received heavy pushback from privacy-conscious Republicans but passed through the U.S. House of Representatives on April 13.
Part of the pushback saw the bills’ proposed spying powers time-frame cut from five years to two years, as well as some minor amendments to the service providers included under the surveillance measures.
However, according to Goitein, the amendment did very little to reduce the scope of surveillance granted to the NSA.
In her view, the amendment could even see service providers such as cleaners, plumbers and IT service providers that have access to laptops and routers inside people’s homes be forced to provide information and serve as “surrogate spies,” claimed Goitein.
The bill has seen strong pushback from both sides of the political aisle, with several government representatives claiming the bill violates citizen’s constitutional rights.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden described the bill as “terrifying” and said he would do everything in his power to prevent it from being passed through the Senate.
“This bill represents one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history.”
Republican Congressperson Anna Paulina Luna, who voted against the bill in the House of Representatives, said Section 702 was an “irresponsible extension” of the NSA’s powers. Luna added that if government agencies wanted access to data, they must be forced to apply for a warrant.
The bill is slated for a vote on April 19 in the U.S. Senate.
Snowden…hehe…Every time the Not a Security Agency..need to to spill some beans they trot out this pillock who now works in the Russian office..Greenwald’s just as bad… men of the ‘narrative’ one could call them..(or swizzlers)..
Hint: They’ve been scooping up all your data since day one..every device has a unique identifier..The Intel management engine built into Intel chips gives them root on any system…all data centers have an NSA black box…etc etc
Of course the fact that DARPA run the platforms shouldn’t be overlooked…now… as we know…a network can never be closed..so most of this snooping can and will be mitigated..if that’s your thing and you program..(python)…
But you may have to sacrifice facefuck and twatX… oh! and don’t forget to be afraid..or as Eddie boy says hurry hurry…to do something.. as if that would make any difference when the alphabets have no oversight…or intention of stopping any of it…it’s who they are after all.. and that’s the function of a whistle blow…
By design..(but not intelligent)…No doubt this is all about the chump bots (Artificial Imbecility) with silly names that are sifting through your under pants in the hope of discovering your hidden data..now..this minute… with glassy eyed spooks with rictus grins and bad breath staring intently at their ‘monitor’ waiting for the money shot…
Snowden– another spook turned limited hangout whistleblower who fails the 9/11 litmus test. Do you really believe he could steal classified NSA data on a zip drive and not be incarcerated or dead as a result ? The JWO wants to inform you per – ” revelation of the method ” , that what remains of the Constitution is being shredded and they use their mouthpiece Snowden to read the script.
Right… Because Google et al. were all created by precocious college kids in their dad’s garage… With no links to the military or the intelligence agencies… Hence NSA has to “force” Google to share data… As if everything, everywhere that is transmitted electronically hasn’t been recorded and data-mined ad absurdum and extrapolated into predictions for the past couple decades.
some experts say you cannot close the internet as
it would mean all their spoiler sites and assets like ” commie carl ” carl jones would also be shut down
Google just weeks ago reconfigured to get more control
of the internet and scoop up more messages for computer analysis