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UN Report Finds NSA Mass Surveillance Likely Violated Human Rights

Posted by Unknown on from the silly-human-rights-are-for-robots dept.

An anonymous reader writes A top United Nations human rights official released a report Wednesday that blasts the United States' mass surveillance programs for potentially violating human rights on a worldwide scale. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also praised whistleblower Edward Snowden and condemned U.S. efforts to prosecute him. "Those who disclose human rights violations should be protected," she said. "We need them." In particular, the surveillance programs violate Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

10 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. So now that the UN said it, by digsbo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    does that mean I'm no longer an extremist for demanding my Constitutional rights be respected?

    1. Re:So now that the UN said it, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No. That means that the UN is now a terrorist organization and US will no longer give a shit about resolutions passed by it.

    2. Re:So now that the UN said it, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Remember when the UN complained about Guantanamo Bay? Well, this is similar.

    3. Re:So now that the UN said it, by JMJimmy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No, it just means that your country has more in common with countries like Iran or Soviet era Russia than you'd like to admit.

      Did you know that the US is one of only 3 countries that haven't ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? The other two are Somalia and South Sudan.

    4. Re:So now that the UN said it, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No, it just means that your country has more in common with countries like Iran or Soviet era Russia than you'd like to admit.

      You haven't seen my anti-US-government rants, have you?

      These days the U.S. Constitution would count as an anti-US-government rant so that's not exactly a distinguishing feature.

    5. Re:So now that the UN said it, by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 5, Interesting

      wrong. the US now does not care about anything but itself.

      rights belong to the highest bidder or power holder.

      that means: not you or me and certainly not some powerless speech-giving org.

      the US is out of control. we all know this now and we all see it.

      the question is: who has enough power to control the current top-dog and put him back in his dog-house?

      THAT is the question. the US is not going to give in willingly.

      I guess its at last a tiny half-step - having the ROW realize that the US is out of control and is violating the rights of, pretty much, anyone who dares try have a private thought or conversation.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  2. Agreed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The single greatest evil that mankind ever unleashed upon the world was a corrupt government.

    We need more people like Snowden. And when they pop up, we should step up and defend them.

    (Of course, all *I* am brave enough to do is post an AC comment on a geek forum....but....maybe somebody else will be brave enough to do what needs to be done).

    1. Re:Agreed. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 5, Insightful

      To agents in the NSA: It doesn't matter if 999 of 1000 of you are honest. All it takes is one G. Gordon Liddy type who ignores requirements for warrants to listen in on political opponents, and the whole thing is worthless. Possibly that is also the real intent, easy obfuscation of ultimate corruption.

      Known historical democracies collapse when they "temporarily" give emergency powers to someone. Greece, Rome, Germany 80 years ago.

      And you're participating in this modern panopticon as a rube while someone, maybe next to you, spies for a party or powerful faction.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  3. The United States Voted For That Declaration by TrollstonButterbeans · · Score: 5, Informative

    In 1948, the United States voted for that declaration.

    "n 10 December 1948, the Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly by a vote of 48 in favor, none against"

    This was the West announcing their idea of human rights.

    (see Wikipedia)

    --
    Priest: "Universe from nothing, no laws of physics, sped up time"+ huge discrepancies. Creationism? No. Big Bang Theory
  4. Re:The U.N. Finds... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And not a single flying fuck was given. U.N., what a joke...

    Ah, the typical asshole American response.

    The US helped form the UN. The US alternates between using the UN to further own ends, and decrying the UN if people refuse to blindly follow what the US wants.

    Face it, the US has actively become the enemies of human rights and liberties over the last bunch of years.

    The fact that you're a bunch of whiny, self-entitled cock-suckers who think you run the world is your problem.

    The UN is a framework for countries to try to resolve issues diplomatically. Yes, it can be ineffective as blocs of countries drag their heels on stuff. But it's all we've got.

    The US talks about international justice, but refuses to be a signatory to the ICC -- so that they can continue to commit war crimes and answer to nobody.

    Fuck America. Fuck you.

    You've become a banana republic with delusions of being the champions of rights and freedoms.

    What a deluded bunch of assholes.