SoylentNews

NSA Targeted 106,000 Foreigners in the Past Year Under Section 702 of FISA

posted by Fnord666 on Thursday September 28 2017, @12:43PM   
from the no-such-agency dept.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-25/nsa-targeted-106-000-foreigners-in-spy-program-up-for-renewal

The U.S. National Security Agency conducted targeted surveillance over the past year against 106,000 foreigners suspected of being involved in terrorism and other crimes, using powers granted in a controversial section of law that's set to expire at the end of this year.

The number of foreigners targeted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act rose from 94,000 in fiscal year 2015, according to U.S. intelligence officials, who asked not to be identified discussing the information. The program lets agencies collect the content of emails and other communications from suspected foreign criminals operating outside the U.S., but it has become a flash point with some lawmakers for potential infringement of Americans' constitutional rights.

Congress has to decide by year-end whether to renew the NSA's power under Section 702, a program that came to light when former government contractor Edward Snowden revealed classified government documents in 2013. While the intelligence officials cautioned that changes would limit its effectiveness, lawmakers including Senate Intelligence Committee member Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, have indicated they'll seek adjustments to ensure against abuses.

---

Original Submission

• Re:It's the bar that's the problem. Re:It's the bar that's the problem. (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday September 28 2017, @05:20PM (2 children)

  by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Thursday September 28 2017, @05:20PM (#574444) Homepage

  Yeah, I (and I word this in the first person but I admit I have no skin in the game) wouldn't be so fussed about the number if that 106000 were all actually involved in action threatening to the security of the nation. However, I bet very few of them actually are. If they were, then as you have indicated, the warrant should be no problem to obtain.
  
  I'd be willing to bet a fair chunk of people who are just fuzzyish name matches for actual suspects. (I used to work with a guy who shared his name with a fictional terrorist from /24/, and he always got the latex glove treatment whenever he travelled outside the US, his country of birth, once /24/ had hit the airwaves.)
  
  If they're finding it hard finding needles in haystacks, the solution is not to search in larger haystacks.

  --
  Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves

  Parent

  Starting Score:	1		point
  Karma-Bonus Modifier		+1
  Total Score:		2

• Re:It's the bar that's the problem. Re:It's the bar that's the problem. (Score: 2) by bart on Thursday September 28 2017, @05:48PM (1 child)

  by bart (2844) on Thursday September 28 2017, @05:48PM (#574462)

  I bet you that he didn't get that treatment while travelling outside the U.S (i.e. crossing numerous borders in Europe or Asia), but only when he actually returned to his home-country.

  Parent

  • Re:It's the bar that's the problem. (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday September 28 2017, @08:11PM

    by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Thursday September 28 2017, @08:11PM (#574516) Homepage

    Indeed. Sometimes if he was hopping conference-to-conference, he'd plan a route around the globe that avoided the US. His company supported that - US border control could steal not just a working day off him, but a laptop too.

    --
    Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves

    Parent