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File Says NSA Found Way To Replace Email Program (nytimes.com)

schwit1 writes: Newly disclosed documents show that the NSA had found a way to create the functional equivalent of programs that had been shut down. The shift has permitted the agency to continue analyzing social links revealed by Americans' email patterns, but without collecting the data in bulk from American telecommunications companies — and with less oversight by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The disclosure comes as a sister program that collects Americans' phone records in bulk is set to end this month. Under a law enacted in June, known as the USA Freedom Act, the program will be replaced with a system in which the NSA can still gain access to the data to hunt for associates of terrorism suspects, but the bulk logs will stay in the hands of phone companies.

The newly disclosed information about the email records program is contained in a report by the NSA's inspector general that was obtained through a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act. One passage lists four reasons the NSA decided to end the email program and purge previously collected data. Three were redacted, but the fourth was uncensored. It said that "other authorities can satisfy certain foreign intelligence requirements" that the bulk email records program "had been designed to meet."

50 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah by wkwilley2 · · Score: 2

    The "Freedom Act"

    Sounds almost as good as the Patriot Act. /s

    --
    Have you ever fallen asleep at the keybhanusdiog?
    1. Re:Yeah by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      Brought to you by a cooperation between Minitru and Miniluv.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. They figured it out before by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They figured out how to replace the programs before they were shut down. That's why the programs were shut down in the first place.......

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    1. Re:They figured it out before by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Well, basically they only need to sniff and pair IP addesses and ports to each other. Now they do it themselves instead of asking for service providers logs

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    2. Re:They figured it out before by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Sorry, man. You gotta cough up some green...

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  3. Them too? by nospam007 · · Score: 2

    I found a way as well, to replace the email program, I deleted Outlook and installed Thunderbird.

    1. Re:Them too? by mcl630 · · Score: 2

      Woosh!

  4. What part of no is hard to understand? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    These a-holes just cant be told no can they?

    1. Re:What part of no is hard to understand? by BlueStrat · · Score: 1
      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  5. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    From your link to the Monticello

    Comments: Neither this quotation nor any of its variant forms has been found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson.

  6. Re:What with? by EmeraldBot · · Score: 4, Funny

    What did they replace their email program with? Pine? Elm? Mutt? Eudora? Thunderbird? Outlook? Outlook Express? Citadel? Courier? Squirrelmail? Something else?

    Gnus writing to a file processed by Thunderbird message passing to Seamonkey sent to an instance of Microsoft Entourage passing to Outlook Express in a VM that is forwarded to a qmail instance which delivers it to Kmail that encrypts it with GPG and sends it to mutt which ROT13 encodes it and converts it to morse to be punched on cards and delivered by snail mail.

    ...

    Everyone calls it contractor.

    --
    "Set a man a fire, he'll be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
  7. The US Government is broken by mschaffer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If this can happen, clearly there are problems with the separation of powers (i.e. the Executive is walking all-over the Congress). Unfortunately, the Congress is either too weak to regain their Constitutional rights and powers, or it simply doesn't want to.

    Too bad we cannot harness the energy output from the founding fathers turning and spinning in their graves.

    1. Re:The US Government is broken by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

      The US Government is broken

      We broke it ourselves...

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    2. Re: The US Government is broken by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You speak like the executive is one group. When I listen to Obama, he says the talking points he has been told. So so called 'anonymous' records, which I know are only technically anonymous, and trivial to de-anonymize, he claims as anonymous.

      In the UK, we REJECTED Snoopers charter, and GCHQ then went on and did the mass surveillance anyway. They should NOT be spying on UK citizens or politicians, but claim they can and that's its legal. They haven't explained how its legal. Currently Theresa May, (appointed under this Stasi regime) is still trying to make it legal.

      Its like the spooks are running the show, and these puppets are chosen by them.

      Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn has a detailed GCHQ file (the Wilson doctrine has been disavoded so they can spy on politicians), and the Army head made it clear people shouldn't vote for him (Army chief went on TV in full dress uniform and warned people against voting for Labour claiming it would weaken UK). There are no doubt plenty of GCHQ people who feel the same and have the secret info on Corbyn. That is how bad it is getting now. They answer to NSA, but Parliament gets a fake cover story.

      So you say 'executive', but really its a few managers in NSA and GCHQ that run the show, and THAT IS ONE STEP AWAY from a dictatorship.

      The judiicary are supposed to protect us from these deluded power crazed idiots, but they are all but bypassed. FISA court judges FISA cases based on what its been told, not any independant policing of the spooks. That was how General Alexander was able to turn "spy on terrorists", into "spy on everyone" with seemingly the court being unaware. Well unaware till they read the news about all the giant datacenters being built.

  8. Better than the IRS by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

    So what you're saying is that it's roughly an order of magnitude more efficient and secure that the way the IRS processes and stores our financial data.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  9. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    A government will do anything asked of it... It is there to serve

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  10. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by thoromyr · · Score: 1

    Ah, yes, the ad hominem when you disagree with the message. Classy.

    So if a human has any failings we should ignore any insights they happen to have. Not that your ad hominem is all that good anyway. You fail to demonstrate that he was plagiarizing John Locke (and be sure to know what plagiarism actually is before trying to do so).

    Lets be clear: I'm not defending Thomas Jefferson. I'm just calling out one of the lamest attempts to discredit someone.

  11. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by mlw4428 · · Score: 1

    This quote was never used by Jefferson. It's too bad you didn't read the webpage before you linked it.

  12. Re:Give me security by ahodgson · · Score: 2

    The US government declaring War on something that isn't a clear military target is the greatest guarantee that "something" will grow every year and be a bigger and bigger problem. Because that's the only way to keep the bureaucrats and contractors feeding at the trough.

  13. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by mi · · Score: 1

    A government will do anything asked of it...

    Asked by who? If I report you as a Communist or ISIS sympathizer, will you cheerfully accept the monitoring and eavesdropping, that's sure to follow?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  14. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Asked by who?

    Exactly my point... Quid pro quo...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  15. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yeah, Jefferson was an incredible hypocrite. He's also one of the major reasons the U.S. Constitution has the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, in turn, has done far more to promote liberty in the U.S. and the world at large than any other single thing in history. So, yes, I'll drink to the old bastard.

  16. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    To paraphrase Jefferson: "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to listen to your every word and track your every move."

    Whether Jefferson said it or not, it's also important to note that, no matter how much power you foolishly cede to the government, you still don't get everything you want. To me, at least, it's not really clear that you get much of anything in exchange.

  17. Re:Badly written headline by Cederic · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The content's even worse.

    found a way to create the functional equivalent of programs that had been shut down

    In English a program is a software application, which makes the statement above sound seriously fucking impressive.

    Turns out the article is talking about programmes, at which point it's merely just another aspect of the Police States of America.

  18. Re:Badly written headline by vbraga · · Score: 1

    Isn't programme merely the British spelling of program? Wikitionary seems to agree.

    --
    English is not my first language. Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
  19. I'm skeptical, but ... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Given their track record, it seems likely the NSA replaced one horribly overreaching program with another. But as far as I can tell, there's little or no evidence (yet) to tell us this new program is equally invasive of Americans' privacy - in fact, that report didn't seem to contain any details at all. While I am very skeptical of this, there is always the possibility they could find a way to accomplish this in a more targeted manner we would not find onerous.

    Of course, the basic problem is - telling us what they're doing, in that case, would likely make such a new program worthless. And it's pointless for them to say "just trust us", since they thoroughly burned that bridge to the ground over the past twenty or so years. Not to mention that we can't trust Congress or the President to effectively oversee such a program and protect our constitutional rights, since they also have a demonstrated history of thoroughly abrogating their responsibility on that subject.

    I'm not sure what the solution is, unfortunately.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  20. Re:Badly written headline by Cederic · · Score: 2

    No, yes, and no.

    No. Programme is the English spelling of program. Yes, programme is the spelling of program used in Britain. No, programme is different to program.

    There is no language called British.

  21. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Find me a person who is not a hypocrite, and I'll show you a scoundrel.
    Being a hypocrite merely means you have standards, and want to be better than you currently are.

    Have you ever looked back at some code you've written, and said, "I should have done better on that code?" Now if you tell other people to not make the same mistake you did, suddenly you are a hypocrite. If "hypocrite" is the worst thing anyone can ever call you, then you've done a good job.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  22. The Onion beat the NYT to the story by Copid · · Score: 2
    --
    An interesting anagram of "BANACH TARSKI" is "BANACH TARSKI BANACH TARSKI"
  23. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by Burz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    At the altar of sacrosanct police and military spending you'll find the most anti-welfare-state, anti-public-infrastructure activists imaginable. And notice that its *private* services that always seem to be on the cutting edge of expanding surveillance in this country.

    Police states form when the political class feels that police and military are the first and last resort to peace and prosperity. And they may resort to impoverishing the public to keep those police and soldiers well staffed and well fed.

  24. They just outsource the spying by ControlsGeek · · Score: 3, Informative

    It isn't illegal for Britain or Canada or Australia to collect email from Americans so the NSA just outsource the illegal collection.

  25. Re:Badly written headline by davester666 · · Score: 1

    Yes, we are talking about the difference between "English" and "American"

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  26. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by mcl630 · · Score: 1

    Unlike governments, corporations have no power to imprison or execute you. And no one's forcing you to use any of the services you list, whereas you can't opt-out of goverment surveillence.

  27. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by MountainLogic · · Score: 2
    Some corporations have indded been granted amazing powers; The Hudson's Bay Company had these powers and more granted by their corporate charter:

    "AND MOREOVER, Our Will and Pleasure is, and by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, WE DO GIVE and grant unto the said Governor and Company, and their Successors, free Liberty and Licence, in case they conceive it necessary, to send either Ships of War, Men or Ammunition, unto any their Plantations, Forts, Factories, or Places of Trade aforesaid, for the Security and Defence of the same, and to choose Commanders and Officers over them, and to give them Power and Authority, by Commission under their Common Seal or otherwise, to continue or make Peace or War with any Prince or People whatsoever, that are not Christians, in any Places where the said Company shall have any Plantations, Forts or Factories, or adjacent thereunto, as shall be most for the Advantage and Benefit of the said Governor and Company, and of their Trade; and also to right and recompense themselves upon the Goods, Estates or People of those Parts, by whom the said Governor and Company shall sustain any Injury, Loss, or Damage, or upon any other People whatsoever that shall any Way, contrary to the Intent of these Presents, interrupt, wrong or injure them in their said Trade, within the said Places, Territories, and Limits, granted by this Charter. And that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governor and Company, and their Successors, from time to time, and at all Times from henceforth, to erect and build such Castles, Fortifications, Forts, Garrisons, Colonies or Plantations, Towns or Villages, in any Parts or Places within the Limits and Bounds granted before in these Presents, unto the said Governor and Company, as they in their Discretion shall think fit and requisite, and for the Supply of such as shall be needful and convenient, to keep and be in the same, to send out of this Kingdom, to the said Castles, Forts, Fortifications, Garrisons, Colonies, Plantations, Towns or Villages, all Kinds of Cloathing, Provision of Victuals, Ammunition, and Implements, necessary for such Purpose, paying the Duties and Customs for the same, as also to transport and carry over such Number of Men being willing thereunto, or not prohibited, as they shall think fit, and also to govern them in such legal and reasonable Manner as the said Governor and Company shall think best, and to inflict Punishment for Misdemeanors, or impose such Fines upon them for Breach of their Orders, as in these Presents are formerly expressed."

    I'd think twice about posting a bad review of the HBC if I lived in Canada. There is also the apocryphal story about every HBC store having two elk and two beavers hidden in the basement ready to pay the pelt tax included in their charter....

  28. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by phantomfive · · Score: 1

    Curious. Posting something accurate about rebutting a false quote gets marked as "Troll".

    It's possible to be entirely accurate and a troll at the same time. Think about it.

    In this case, your argument that "Jefferson was one of the lamest founding fathers" isn't very convincing. His architecture was some of the best, his writing was excellent, and a lot of his ideas were interesting (none of us is entirely original....I'm not sure I've ever had an entirely original idea myself).

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  29. Someone needs to sponsor a virginity act. by tlambert · · Score: 2

    Someone needs to sponsor a virginity act. That way everyone gets laid.

    1. Re:Someone needs to sponsor a virginity act. by JazzLad · · Score: 1

      Oh, I don't know, I think we get screwed by the govt plenty ;)

      --
      "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." - Every fascist, ever
  30. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by tlambert · · Score: 1

    It's not ad-homenim. Invoking the name of a famous person along with quotes or advice by them is attempting to use their position of fame and their reputation to lend weight to the advice.

    So because they committed the fallacy of "appeal to authority", you committing the fallacy of "arguing ad hominem", thus compounding rather than pointing out the original fallacy, isn't actually a fallacy, it's magically delicious instead?

  31. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by tlambert · · Score: 1

    Unlike governments, corporations have no power to imprison or execute you./p>

    You have obviously never met a corporate "fixer". Pray you never do; they tend to be actual psychopaths.

  32. Re:Badly written headline by tsqr · · Score: 1

    In the companies I have worked for, there have been lots of Program Managers, who manage what you're referring to as "programmes". We have zero Programme Managers.

  33. Re:Badly written headline by Cederic · · Score: 1

    Clearly your version of Google works differently to mine, as I'm spotting nothing that contradicts what I've stated.

    Of course, if you'd actually articulate why you think I'm wrong instead of merely asserting it then you wouldn't come across as a complete twat.

  34. Smell by dohzer · · Score: 1

    A program by any other name would smell the same.

  35. Re:To Slashdot Resident Statists... by sjames · · Score: 1

    Yes, simply by not bothering with things like having a phone or a place to live, you too can opt out of corporate tyranny. Of course, that opts you out of government interference as well for all practical purposes (especially if you go live in the woods), so I suppose they're about the same. Except that there is at least a Constitution and concepts of due process that occasionally save you from the government. There's no such protection from corporate tyranny.

  36. Re:The NSA is part of the Executive branch of the by sjames · · Score: 1

    Sure, but they're supposed to be answerable to the president, but they keep him under their control. Then the executive branch is supposed to be checked and balanced by the legislative and judicial branches. The legislative is too busy whipping dead horses to deal with this and the judicial has abdicated.

  37. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Surely, you've had an original idea.

    "Pink and purple garbanzo beans fester in my scrotum, not entirely unlike fuchsia."

    You can have that one, for free even.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  38. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by phantomfive · · Score: 1

    I think I've read it before.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  39. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by KGIII · · Score: 1

    I imagine that might have been me. 'Tis a long story but that's what blurted out of me while in a museum, while tripping, and surrounded by a tour group. The lady friend that was with me turned and said, "My brain has been removed by a skyhook." We were good until she turned around and saw a giant lobster hanging on the wall and started going "meep meep meep!" (Which, at the time, indicated great excitement.) We were not technically asked to leave, even then, but we knew we'd overstayed our welcome so we meandered off on our own.

    It was, however, an original thought and a gift to you. You can have it, do with it what you will, or even discard it. I'd suggest not keeping it, it's contagious.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  40. Re:Phbbbt. We don't need not stinking fact checkin by phantomfive · · Score: 1

    Why thank you sir.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  41. Replacing an email program? by Trogre · · Score: 1

    Which one? Thunderbird? Kmail? Evolution?

    Perhaps they found a way to replace their email programme.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife