FISA // Current

D.H.S. Accused of Disregarding Americans' Privacy

Privacy advocates are asking lawmakers to investigate the Department of Homeland... more

The_Global_Report
added this
8 days ago
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0 comments

Obama Admin. Tries to Stop Wiretap Lawsuit

Attorney General Eric Holder says a lawsuit in San Francisco over warrantless... more

The_Global_Report
added this
8 days ago
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1 comment

Obama Dept. of Justice Argues for blanket reinstatement of the Patriot Act. Not on Feingold's watch.

When President Obama was Senator Obama, he had deep reservations about the expansion... more

Kari_Heaberlin
added this
22 days ago
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2 comments

Punk Patriot * You can't Point to Government

What exactly *is* government?

asherp
added this
5 months ago
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2 comments

Warrantless surveillance lawsuit thrown out - FISA requirements protect telecoms

A federal district judge has dismissed a lawsuit over warrantless surveillance that... more

billwatt
added this
5 months ago
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6 comments

Following Bush lead, Obama moves to block challenge to wiretapping program

President Barack Obama invoked "state secrets" to prevent a court from reviewing the... more

bansheewail
added this
7 months ago
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6 comments

Wiretap suits press on in the wake of FISA amendments

The class-action lawsuits against telecoms accused of unlawfully participating in NSA... more

gylu
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

WAR IS PEACE !

“I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about... more

WhiteNoise
added this
1 year ago
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2 comments

United State's Preparations to Declare Martial Law

Senator Kucinich's question to congress if there's ever been a "Secret Meeting" (A... more

jonathanselby
added this
1 year ago
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15 comments

Justice Department Asks Intelligence Court to Review New Wiretapping Law in Secret

In a brief filed late yesterday with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court... more

goldenways
added this
1 year ago
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1 comment

An excellent lecture on data mining with one very important required additional side note

Yesterday I came across the following lecture, “Statistical Aspects of Data Mining (Stats 202) Day 1,” from Google Tech Talks. I thought it did an excellent job explaining the concept and powers of data mining...

At approximately 42 minutes into the lecture the concept of what defines an anomaly is introduced. The statement is made that “generally an anomaly is an outlier: something that lies away from the rest of the data.” The lecturer does clarify this statement by saying that “in some space an anomaly is an outlier, but the key might be to find that space.”

What is crucial to understand is that the so-called “space” is created by the parameters set in the data mining collection and interpretation process.

As has been previously stated, anyone involved in the data mining process, from the data collector to the interpreter, can create anomalies at will, anywhere at any time, either deliberately or erroneously. It is relatively easy to change certain parameters to obtain the anomalies that are desired.

So a “space” as mentioned in the lecture is a relative term. This means that anything can be used to isolate data, may they be numbers or people. For example, it would be relatively easy for any government to create anomalies by setting parameters such as flagging people who attend church more than once a day - or people who pray five times a day - or even those who sign out certain books from a community library.

We should never forget that genocide has been committed numerous times by governments throughout history by isolating individuals and communities based on certain parameters.

So even though the above lecture makes data mining seem benign, in reality, data mining has been a harbinger of atrocities.

In science, the analysis of anomalies contributes to our understanding of the physical world, improving our lives. In contrast, identifying anomalies in our society based on political doctrine or religious beliefs has created fear and misunderstanding, restricting our lives. The lack of accountability from our leaders and our indifference to the consequences of their actions is diminishing our civil liberties. But it is not too late, we can prevent this from happening. We still have the ability to reclaim our future if we begin to educate ourselves.
Yesterday I came across the following lecture, “Statistical Aspects of Data Mining... more

salviad
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

Democrats voted for FISA out of fear

It was not the fear of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists that motivated... more

Octoguy
added this
1 year ago
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57 comments

Why Impeachment was "Off the Table"

In December of last year, The Washington Post revealed: Four members of Congress... more

RyanBWylie
added this
1 year ago
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1 comment

Senator Webb: Blogs are Frustrating, That is Why I Don't Read Them

The blogs… the good news and bad news about blogs. First the bad news. The bad news... more

nelsonjs
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

Obama down in polls after FISA flip

Obama's rapid drop comes at a strategically challenging moment for the Democratic... more

Mulcahey
added this
1 year ago
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1 comment

EFF vows FISA/TelCo fight only beginning.

The EFF released a statement on Friday concerning the recent FISA update, specifically... more

palaver
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

Embracing Big Brother

CANDACE COHN Counterpunch Friday, June 27, 2008 It may be June, but Christmas... more

unstephenk
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

New York's House Democrats Folded on FISA Bill? Why?

The eight Congressmen from New York were originally against voting for any bill that... more

amilli23
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

The Presidential Chess Game. ( McCain 1 Obama 0 )

"Mr. Obama’s vote for the bill, which provides legal immunity for phone companies that participated in the government’s wiretapping program, represents a reversal for the presumptive Democratic nominee. He previously opposed that provision. Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, was not present for the vote." -Michael Falcone of The New York Times

The FIFA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.) passed with a 69 to 28 vote on Wednesday the 9th, of July. This bill calls for the extension of unwarranted wiretaps from the previous 48 hours to 168 hours or one full week. This bill also grants Telecoms immunity from lawsuits for aiding the U.S. government in these surveillances. The bill also prevents government from invoking war powers to overrule surveillance rules in the future. (So things like the patriot act may be a bit harder to pass in the future?)

Senetor McCain played his cards well on this one. He didn't even bother to show up! He knew full well that Obama would vote yes and cause all sorts of trouble on the net for himself. Which he did fully. People are up in arms, not knowing of course that the vote really didn't mean anything at all. These wiretaps happen legaly for 48 hours, at which time a new unwarranted wiretap may begin for up to 48 hours, at which time a new unwarranted wiretap may begin for up to 48 hours. Do you see what i mean? The only real part that has changed is the "immunities" Telecoms receive.
Honestly folks, how many of you are doing something worth the government paying attention to?
Yes this bill does look a lot like the advancement of "Big Brother" or "police states" but look at it like this. At least Barrack was honest enough to vote how we all know Senetor McCain would have voted on this bill. This is nothing to get upset about folks Barrack is still learning, where as McCain is already trained how to take over the Bush regime. By not voting, all of the attention is focused on Obama, well played Mr. McCain...Well played. "Mr. Obama’s vote for the bill, which provides legal immunity for phone companies... more

daelclark
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

Finance, Favors and FISA | American News Project

Congress considered final passage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)... more

lagan
added this
1 year ago
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0 comments

tagged w/ FISA

D.H.S. Accused of Disregarding Americans' Privacy

Obama Admin. Tries to Stop Wiretap Lawsuit

Obama Dept. of Justice Argues for blanket reinstatement of the Patriot Act. Not on Feingold's watch.

Punk Patriot * You can't Point to Government

Warrantless surveillance lawsuit thrown out - FISA requirements protect telecoms

Following Bush lead, Obama moves to block challenge to wiretapping program

Wiretap suits press on in the wake of FISA amendments

WAR IS PEACE !

United State's Preparations to Declare Martial Law

Justice Department Asks Intelligence Court to Review New Wiretapping Law in Secret

An excellent lecture on data mining with one very important required additional side note

Democrats voted for FISA out of fear

Why Impeachment was "Off the Table"

Senator Webb: Blogs are Frustrating, That is Why I Don't Read Them

Obama down in polls after FISA flip

EFF vows FISA/TelCo fight only beginning.

Embracing Big Brother

New York's House Democrats Folded on FISA Bill? Why?

The Presidential Chess Game. ( McCain 1 Obama 0 )

Finance, Favors and FISA | American News Project

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