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US Spy Chief Reverses Course, Will Not Say How Many Americans Caught in NSA Surveillance (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the reversing-course dept.

Zack Whittaker, writing for ZDNet: US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats has refused to say how many Americans have been caught up in the government's surveillance programs, reversing a confirmation pledge he made earlier this year. Coats said at a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the reauthorization of a key foreign surveillance law that it is "infeasible" to provide an estimate of how many Americans' communications have been collected by the National Security Agency. It's a key question that has been raised by senior lawmakers on several occasions of both the Obama and Trump administrations.

6 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Easy answer by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Informative

    All of them, and a shitload of people outside the border too.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    1. Re: Easy answer by Reverend+Green · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I dunno about of grid guy. That kinda person is rare and interesting enough they might get some physical surveillance. If not an agent to check in on them from time to time, at least periodic drone flyoversâ.

      The Amish are completely peaceful and harmless. But they do represent a virtuous traditional âculture that's quite nearly the polar opposite of degenerate financialists.

      And they're land-rich. Really nice land. A whole lot of nice land. Land never touched by toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizersâ.

      I'm sure there must be at least a few filthy capitalists - with old boy network connections to the security state - salivating over that land. And plotting ways to disposess the gentle Amish who have proven themselves such good stewards of God's creation.

  2. Re: Impeachment by Reverend+Green · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dude - it's too late to impeach Obama - he's already out.

  3. IE: All of them by grasshoppa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's infeasible not because it's technically challenging or anything. No, it's because they don't want to deal with the PR fall out.

    Not that anyone would care.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
  4. Easy question to answer by stooo · · Score: 4, Informative

    >> how many Americans have been caught up in the government's surveillance programs
    The answer is 320 million.

    --
    aaaaaaa
  5. Re:Impeachment by willy_me · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How about something more likely.

    1) Russia scored when hacking. Part luck and part hard work.

    2) Wanting to get the most out of their hack, the Russians dangle knowledge of the hack in front of the Trump team. "Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

    3) The Trump team jumps on the opportunity. Notice how Trump pushed through a policy for the Republican party that no weapons should be given to Ukraine? That was back scratching.

    4) Release of the Hillary emails was perfectly timed and Trump gets elected.

    5) Since then, the Trump / Russia relationship has soured. But Putin is still able to remind Trump that he has proof of Trump lying. Remember the White House visit just a couple of days after Comey was fired? That looks bad and Trump knows it. But since it was requested by Putin, he has to follow through. This is Putin yanking Trumps chain - a subtle reminder of the damage Putin could inflict upon Trump.