Panel Urges Major NSA Spying Overhaul

wiredmikey writes "A board set up to review the NSA's vast surveillance programs has called for a wide-ranging overhaul of National Security Agency practices while preserving 'robust' intelligence capabilities. The panel, set up by President Obama, issued 46 recommendations, including reforms at a secret national security court and an end to retention of telephone 'metadata' by the spy agency. The 308-page report (PDF) submitted last week to the White House and released publicly Wednesday says the US government needs to balance the interests of national security and intelligence gathering with privacy and 'protecting democracy, civil liberties, and the rule of law.' Panel members said the recommendations would not necessarily mean a rolling back of intelligence gathering, including on foreign leaders, but that surveillance must be guided by standards and by high-level policymakers."

Comments

Bah!

[Anonymous Coward]

There is no change, those are only recommendations. Obama has yet to decide what to do. Even then it will take Congress acting to change much of it, assuming Obama decides to change anything.

Snowden has offered to help Brazil investigate US intelligence. Is that the patriotism you were referring to?

As to Snowden's fate, there are some other views about him.

Re:Bah!

[cold fjord]

Brazil is a sovereign country and they can cooperate with whoever the fuck they want. Wake up and smell the coffee. South America is no longer the United States' backyard.

You're right, Brazil is a grown up sovereign country. That means its military and government can be spied on by Russia, China, Western Europe, Canada, and the US, just like any other major country. Welcome to the big leagues, and don't whine to be treated just like everybody else.

Re:Bah!

[cold fjord]

Are you advocating that Snowden do something to violate the law?

He has already broken the law, many times. What he is offering to do with Brazil would just add to the list.

Re:You had it coming

[cold fjord]

Well, if the US government is spying on behalf of US companies, those companies cannot be trusted.
  It's violation of the free market forces and clearly illegal. Their bids are obviously invalid.

That is basically a strawman argument. Snowden hasn't provided any proof that the US engages in industrial espionage to directly benefit it's industry.

Show the US be embarrassed for helping to stop about 50 terrorist plots outside the US? Should it be embarrassed for helping to defense Western Europe from the Soviet Union? The NSA was involved in both of those.

otherwise what's next state-sponsored bribery, theft, sabotage of competitors, why not just invade a foreign country take all their gold?

Well, no appeal to emotions there.