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Sweden Admits Tapping Citizens' Phones for Decades

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the oh-well-if-you-have-already-been-doing-it dept.

paulraps writes "Sweden is close to implementing new surveillance legislation that will include the monitoring of emails, telephone calls and keyword searches using advanced pattern analysis. The objective is to detect 'threats such as terrorism, IT attacks or the spread of weapons of mass destruction' but the proposals have divided the country. In a misguided attempt to put people at ease, the government admitted that Sweden has been tapping its citizens' phones for decades anyway."

9 of 273 comments (clear)

  1. Snicker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guy : Honey, I think we should start seeing other people
    Gal : I can't believe you are saying that, I thought our relationship was strong
    Guy : I don't know why you're so upset, I've been seeing others for 10 years now, hasn't bothered you yet
    Gal : You've been doing WHAT?!>
    Guy : Oh, uh, I mean, well, did I say 10years, I meant .. SMACK

  2. Re:Yes ... and? by eck011219 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why encrypt it? Everyone is speaking Swedish -- who can understand THAT anyway?

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  3. Yeah well... by BWJones · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, well it's not like Sweden has a document like the US Constitution that prot....ect......s.... its um, citizens from....... Er..... Nevermind.

    Revolution!

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  4. Re:Yes ... and? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër?
    See the løveli lakes
    The wøndërful telephøne system
    And mäni interesting furry animals

  5. The US called by HomelessInLaJolla · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Centre Party leader claims that defence minister Mikael Odenberg's proposed legislation would merely codify practices that have already been in operation for decades

    "Sweden has always listened in as a means of ensuring that we have had the information necessary to protect national security. I don't think that is a secret," said Olofsson at a press conference on Friday.

    "All I know is that we do not currently have any surveillance on the cable network. For six decades we had a surveillance system with no regulation and absolutely no protection for private individuals. I think that is forgotten sometimes in this discussion," said Odenberg. The US Federal Government called--it seems that Sweden is infringing on their patent for "Application of the Kansas City Shuffle to a Population of Citizens to Effect Domestic Surveillance Under the Auspices of Preventing Terrorism for the Purpose of Perpetuating Financial Debt"
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  6. Re:Yes ... and? by c0d3h4x0r · · Score: 5, Funny

    Everyone is speaking Swedish -- who can understand THAT anyway?

    Chefs?

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  7. Re:Yes ... and? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    We apologize for the fault in the comments. Those responsible have been sacked.

    Anonymous Møøse

  8. They Are Afraid by Perl-Pusher · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's why they spy on them.

  9. Good thing I don't live there by boyfaceddog · · Score: 5, Funny

    In my country we have a constitution that protects our rights from invasion by the government. I could say wahtever I wanted to about President Bush and suffer no consequences at all.

    I for one would never say anything bad about President Bush though, even though I know the FBI/CIA/Whaterver aren't listening to me. That would just be silly.

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    Here will be an old abusing of God's patience and the king's English.