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NSA Admits Searching "3 Hops" From Suspects

Posted by timothy on from the extrapolation-nation dept.

New submitter cpitman writes "In a house hearing Wednesday the NSA admitted that it could query not only a suspect's records, but also perform up to a 'three hop query'. Considering that most people in the world are separated by under 6 degrees of separation, the NSA essentially claims that any single suspect gives them rights to investigate a large chunk of the world's population. With the terror watch list having over 700,000 names, just how many times has Kevin Bacon been investigated?"

6 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. Can we discuss the fourth amendment now? by intermodal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At this revelation, it doesn't take a libertarian to point out that this isn't based on probable cause.

    --
    In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    1. Re:Can we discuss the fourth amendment now? by TWX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That just proves that it's more like Brave New World than it is like 1984.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  2. I think what's clear by DarkOx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think whats clear is that despite the apologists claims to the contrary; be they from the NSA, Administration, or Congress there was no effective oversize of these programs. Feel good political firewalls are not a strategy. Its a universal truth just about any information gathered will be turned to unintended ends. All it will ever take is some SOB come along and make the right excuses and justifications, creatively define a few terms and suddenly the laws governing the use of the data are meaningless.

    If we don't want our government to abuse this type of data the only solution bar them from getting it in the first place.

    --
    Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
  3. Re:Congress is "angry" by sexconker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The first paragraph of TFA is:

    The National Security Agency revealed to an angry congressional panel on Wednesday that its analysis of phone records and online behavior goes exponentially beyond what it had previously disclosed.

    If it's true that members of Congress are angry, that's favorable news! Maybe they can be persuaded to get off their butts and do something about this.

    They only thing they're angry about is the fact that people found out.

  4. Re:It's 4.74, not 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The problem with your thinking is that the Dunbar number is limited by our brains. The internet and the NSA do not forget.

    Remember that guy who emailed you about that craigslist posting you put up a few years ago? No? Well, the NSA does.

  5. Re:Congress is "angry" by Guru80 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Of course members of congress are "Angry"TM, so "Angry"TM that they will make sure they let everyone that matters to their election know how "Angry"TM they are. They will even get all huffy and yell and tell the room they are so "Angry"TM and it isn't acceptable. Maybe even pound their fist and wag a finger all for the "Angry"TM dramatic flair....then go out for coffee and do absolutely nothing about it.