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Terrorism is the modern exception to civil rights, much as the "Red Menace" was to earlier generations. Previous crackpots protecting us at the loss of our freedom only rose as high as the Senate level. Today the Commander and Chief protects us from "evil." One result of our current police state is that stories that really should be plastered about with incensed outcry are left to fade, the fourth estate being distracted by safer, meaningless topics.
What prompts this? Well, someone was describing to me a particularly paranoid person. They were going on about how "they" can snoop on any suspect via their cell phone. I was looked to for confirmation that this was paranoid fantasy. Sadly, I knew for a fact it wasn't.
It took some digging to find the story. The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. It took me a while to find this, that bothered me more than even the story itself.
Other stories fade, too. Why isn't Bush answering for his snooping? Where did that story go? If you pay attention, you'll notice the laws that he should be answering for breaking are being quietly rewritten. Or, more interestingly, begin ignored.
For your perusal and paranoia, I offer the following FBI stories on evidence acquisition:
Note, these are just the ones I remembered to search for. There are many, many more.
What prompts this? Well, someone was describing to me a particularly paranoid person. They were going on about how "they" can snoop on any suspect via their cell phone. I was looked to for confirmation that this was paranoid fantasy. Sadly, I knew for a fact it wasn't.
It took some digging to find the story. The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. It took me a while to find this, that bothered me more than even the story itself.
Other stories fade, too. Why isn't Bush answering for his snooping? Where did that story go? If you pay attention, you'll notice the laws that he should be answering for breaking are being quietly rewritten. Or, more interestingly, begin ignored.
For your perusal and paranoia, I offer the following FBI stories on evidence acquisition:
- FBI Issues New Rules For Getting Phone Records
- Pentagon Using Little-Known Power to Look at Bank, Credit Records of Hundreds of Americans
- FBI turns to broad new wiretap method
- Justice Dept.: FBI Misused Patriot Act
Note, these are just the ones I remembered to search for. There are many, many more.
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There was this news story awhile back that involved a woman shot on a city street. The police were able to trace the shooter halfway across the city using the variety of exterior security cameras scattered throughout the city. This is the kind of story that makes you glad for the cameras, as they did catch the guy, but I couldn't find anyone else concerned by the fact that they were able to trace the every move of a random citizen that they weren't even monitoring at the time.
I remember reading 1984 in high school and thinking how far fetched the idea of constant monitoring of the public as a whole was. Heh.