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Net Taps Without Warrants?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the not-a-surprise-at-all dept.

disappear writes "In the wake of yesterday's threats to cryptography, more ominous news: Wired News reports that a bill permitting warrantless Internet surveilance has been passed by the Senate." This is just part of the expected and unfortunate backlash from tuesday. The terrorists are winning simply because the govt. can use their threat as a blank check to take away our rights. The worst part is that this will do no good whatsoever. Does the govt really think that crypto export restrictions have prevented terrorists from having strong crypto?

2 of 474 comments (clear)

  1. SSH by Luke · · Score: 1, Troll

    Quick everyone install ssh and disable telnet!

    No ftp, only sftp and scp.

    No un-encrypted emails!

  2. Re:Not as bad as it sounds by lie+as+cliche · · Score: 1, Troll

    This bill is quite limited in its scope, allowing only 48 hours to tap without approval and only for immediate threats to "National Security."

    Yes, and with terrorism now the flavor of the month, and theoretically anyone capable of being a terrorist, that's still too broad for my comfort. I wouldn't trust our government with a Swiss Army knife, let alone effective omniscience.

    Many civil liberties are restricted during threats to "National Security."

    You say that like it excuses it.

    Ever heard of martial law and curfews?

    Ever heard of Auschwitz?

    It's a slippery slope, that's all I'm saying. Taxes were originally raised for wartime purposes as a purely temporary measure as well.