The Fundamentals of US Surveillance: What Edward Snowden Never Told Us?
Former US intelligence
contractor Edward Snowden’s revelations rocked the world. According to
his detailed reports, the US had launched massive spying programs and
was scrutinizing the communications of American citizens in a manner
which could only be described as extreme and intense.
contractor Edward Snowden’s revelations rocked the world. According to
his detailed reports, the US had launched massive spying programs and
was scrutinizing the communications of American citizens in a manner
which could only be described as extreme and intense.
The US’s reaction was swift and to the point. “”Nobody is listening to your telephone calls,” President
Obama said when asked about the NSA. As quoted in The Guardian, Obama
went on to say that surveillance programs were “fully overseen not just
by Congress but by the Fisa court, a court specially put together to
evaluate classified programs to make sure that the executive branch, or
government generally, is not abusing them”.
Obama said when asked about the NSA. As quoted in The Guardian, Obama
went on to say that surveillance programs were “fully overseen not just
by Congress but by the Fisa court, a court specially put together to
evaluate classified programs to make sure that the executive branch, or
government generally, is not abusing them”.
However, it appears that Snowden may have missed a pivotal part of
the US surveillance program. And in stating that the “nobody” is not
listening to our calls, President Obama may have been fudging quite a
bit.
In fact, Great Britain maintains
a “listening post” at NSA HQ. The laws restricting live wiretaps do not
apply to foreign countries and thus this listening post is not
subject to US law. In other words, the restrictions upon wiretaps,
etc. do not apply to the British listening post. So when Great Britain
hands over the recordings to the NSA, technically speaking, a law is not
being broken and technically speaking, the US is not eavesdropping on
our each and every call.
a “listening post” at NSA HQ. The laws restricting live wiretaps do not
apply to foreign countries and thus this listening post is not
subject to US law. In other words, the restrictions upon wiretaps,
etc. do not apply to the British listening post. So when Great Britain
hands over the recordings to the NSA, technically speaking, a law is not
being broken and technically speaking, the US is not eavesdropping on
our each and every call.
It is Great Britain which is doing the eavesdropping and turning over these records to US intelligence.
