Many US experts on terror have warned that we need
digital sources of intelligence to defeat ISIS.
However, allowing the US government to collect intelligence from our
phone calls and texts, emails and internet browsing requires that we trust the
government not to misuse the information.
The way to build trust is to explain both what you are doing and
what you are not. For example, you are collecting who email is sent to
and who it came from, but you are not looking at the message. It's the
same with phone calls. You are looking at the number dialed, and the
number of the phone that originated the call, but not listening to what was
said. You will then use the information of who called who as a basis to
get a warrant before you look at the message or listen to the calls. It's
simple to explain that way and everybody would get it.
The problem of trust in our government is also that the Feds ain't
trustworthy, they're scofflaws. The federal government has a very recent
history of misusing information for political purposes. Lois Lerner used the IRS to attack the Tea
Party without any cloak of secrecy. The IRS used an excuse that was
equivalent to saying subpoenas caused disk crashes, obstructing justice with
impunity. Lois Lerner retired with full
benefits and no indictment. How much worse
can the government do if it's cloaked as a secret national security issue. There's a legitimate fear based just on the behavior we
can see. Ending federal lawbreaking with impunity will build trust.
Unfortunately, the Clinton email scandal is creating more distrust. After presenting a very strong case against
Hillary Clinton, FBI Director James Comey went on to say no prosecutor would
indict Mrs. Clinton. They certainly
indicted General David Petraeus for a lot less.
Stunts, like Clinton breaking the law with impunity, have national
security consequences. By lowering the
trust people have in government, they make it harder for the federal government
to collect the digital intelligence needed to stop Islamic terrorist attacks.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/defeating-isis-on-the-digital-battlefield-1466635130
http://www.wsj.com/articles/defeating-isis-on-the-digital-battlefield-1466635130
Hi there! Nice post! Please tell us when I will see a follow up!
ReplyDeleteBattlefield 1 Aimbot
Snce I wrote this, things have only gotten worse. For example, it's come out the the Department of Justice blocked an FBI investigation of the Clinton Foundation donations as a pay for influence scheme. The press has completely dropped its watchdog role and demonstrated that it's willing to provide active excuses and coverups for Democrats without eve being asked. The secrecy and lies around the Iran deal have totally discredited all of the previous statements about the negotiations. No matter who wins the election, nobody is going to trust anything the government says for years. I don't see any way a surveillance program can be authorized in a climate like this.
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