Unprecedented: U.S. terrorism agency to tap vast database of citizens
The rules now allow the little-known National Counterterrorism Center to examine the government files of U.S. citizens for possible criminal behavior, even if there is no reason to suspect them. That is a departure from past practice, which barred the agency from storing information about ordinary Americans unless a person was a terror suspect or related to an investigation.
Now, NCTC can copy entire government databases—flight records, casino-employee lists, the names of Americans hosting foreign-exchange students and many others. The agency has new authority to keep data about innocent U.S. citizens for up to five years, and to analyze it for suspicious patterns of behavior. Previously, both were prohibited. Data about Americans “reasonably believed to constitute terrorism information” may be permanently retained.
The changes also allow databases of U.S. civilian information to be given to foreign governments for analysis of their own. In effect, U.S. and foreign governments would be using the information to look for clues that people might commit future crimes.
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Let’s play “What if a Repub…”
Ah, f*** it, why bother?
Bruce MacMahon on December 13, 2012 at 8:53 AM
Terrorists = Tea Party
Terrorists = Conservatives
Count it.
Read 1984 for further information.
turfmann on December 13, 2012 at 9:01 AM
Yeah, why do I get the feeling that firearms purchase records are getting super extra special scrutiny?
So tell me, libs, is this the Hope or the Change because it’s getting hard to keep up with all this good stuff after the secretive Dubya left office.
Bishop on December 13, 2012 at 9:04 AM
We are so screwed. I truly believe it will take an act of God to save us…..
redlucy on December 13, 2012 at 9:04 AM
If you think this crap wouldn’t be happening under a Republican president you’re kidding yourselves. It started under Bush and now both parties can’t get enough of it.
A switch to the Libertarian party is long overdue for those of you who enjoy your freedoms.
Benaiah on December 13, 2012 at 9:06 AM
What can go wrong?
BigGator5 on December 13, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Fascists.
steebo77 on December 13, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Learn to embrace the suck…………..
dmann on December 13, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Makes those FBI files the Clinton’s used look insignificant in comparison.
Night Owl on December 13, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Smoke dope and tear down the fence around my land, eh…maybe I’ll just not vote.
Bishop on December 13, 2012 at 9:11 AM
This. When it comes to undreamed of and unconstitutional snooping, it is a truly bipartisan issue. The NSA whistleblower was entirely ignored by both sides of the aisle and harassed continuously.
If you think either party gives a rip for liberty or personal sovereignty, you need to put down the crack pipe and back away slowly.
CorporatePiggy on December 13, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Sounds like an old saying, “The dark night of fascism is always descending on the United States … and settling on Europe.”
Seems that saying now has a corollary.
The media always talks about the danger of a Republican president assuming unprecedented powers on American citizens, then not even noticing when a Democrat president goes much, much farther.
There Goes The Neighborhood on December 13, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Theoretically, maybe. But notice who actually abuses the power. There is a pattern.
There Goes The Neighborhood on December 13, 2012 at 9:23 AM
You forgot:
White men
White Christians
AGW deniers
1%ers unless liberals.
Whites that don’t embrace the gay.
Frank Enstine on December 13, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Truth Bro.
I got a good taste of it myself
from the R’s in my state. Freedom and Liberty?
Howl* The letter R don’t mean shite.
Ask my ex Gov Crist..
bazil9 on December 13, 2012 at 9:28 AM
It’s more like any public servants that cares because as we know they are mostly exempt form these measures. Public servants were supposed to be just that but as soon as the Constitution was signed they have been our public masters that are to be feared. We may like to think they are citizens the same as everyone else but having grown up in a cop and political family I know that they think/know they are above the law unless they do something very public and very stupid.
Frank Enstine on December 13, 2012 at 9:30 AM
It’s what the left is all about. They don’t give a crap about a single issue they carry on about. They only care if that issue will resonate with the useful idiots that give them power.
Frank Enstine on December 13, 2012 at 9:32 AM
So if I switch to a third place party, everything will be just fine? Boy that was easy!
Akzed on December 13, 2012 at 9:33 AM
I always feel like
Somebody’s watching me
And I have no privacy
I always feel like
Somebody’s watchin’ me
Tell me is it just a dream
RAN58 on December 13, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Ironically, this is the same “Extremism and Radicalization Branch” of DHS that eradicated all references to the terms “Islamofascist” and “jihadist” (even though that’s the name those who are at war with us, themselves, use). The Obama administration, in replacing “war on terror” with “overseas contingency operations,” for fear of offending Muslims, apparently has no fear of offending Christians and conservatives.
Akzed on December 13, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Have you ever seen the TV show “Person of Interest”?
While Reese and Finch are ficticious characters, “the machine” may be more truth than fiction…
ITguy on December 13, 2012 at 9:37 AM
The transformation of the US into an oppressive communist dictatorship is progressing nicely.
The Rogue Tomato on December 13, 2012 at 9:52 AM
Who can keep this data for as long as they like and then provide it to US agencies on whatever terms they like.
sharrukin on December 13, 2012 at 9:53 AM
It would happen a bit more slowly under the Rs simply because the libs and media would protest it.
The Rogue Tomato on December 13, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Great news!
- sesquipedalian, libfree, lostinwonderland
darwin on December 13, 2012 at 10:02 AM
The NSA whistleblower said “the machine” is a work in progress. In the mean time all the data is being stored. He blew the whistle on his own project when he realized the technology was not being used exclusively on external subjects – it was also being used on American citizens. He said something about that Constitution thing and was blackballed faster than you can say Change you can believe in.
CorporatePiggy on December 13, 2012 at 10:03 AM
That’s not what he said and you know it, petulant fool.
But in any case it’s too late.
MelonCollie on December 13, 2012 at 10:47 AM
And, that’s why the checks are in place – because not everyone would have turned down a crown, as Washington did. “We should be allowed to violate these boundaries because we’re pure/special/enlightened” is the first indication of a tyrant.
GWB on December 13, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Fascism is its first stop, though.
GWB on December 13, 2012 at 12:24 PM