NSA - Recording One Billion Phonecalls Per Day
Yesterday Glenn Greenwald gave a talk (video) to the Socialism 2013 conference in Chicago. At 39:48 into the talk he says this (my transcription):Another document that I probably shouldn't but - since it's not published - but I am going to anyway share with you - and this one is coming soon - but you are getting a little preview. It talks about how a brand new technology enables the National Security Agency to direct, redirect into its own repositories, one billion cellphone calls every single day, one billion cellphone calls every single day.
What we are really talking about here is a globalized system that prevents any form of electronic communication from taking place without it's being stored and monitored by the National Security Agency. It doesn't mean they are listening to every call, it means they are storing every call and have the capability to listen to them at any time. And it does mean that they are collecting millions upon millions upon millions of our phone and email records.
It is a globalized system designed to destroy all privacy. And what is incredibly menacing about it is that it is all talking place in the dark, with no accountability and virtually no safeguards.That the NSA can grab and store one billion calls per day is plausible. Voice can be easily compressed into a quite small data chunks. Automated speech to text transcription allows to make all these calls searchable. Not only their metadata, but the spoken and transcribed content of the calls themselves. Then matching that content to trigger words allows to fish out "targets" for further investigation. Voice recognition and/or metadata analysis will then allow to filter out other calls such "targets" made or will later make.
The NSA, we are told, must set out to find the needle in the haystack, the one terrorist in the midst of all us good people. To find a needle in the haystack is quite easy to do. Get a huge electromagnet, switch it on and the needle will come towards it while the straw will not move. That is what the NSA is set out to do here with one billion cellphone calls per day. To find those bad, bad terrorists. But that electromagnet trick assumes that the needle is made of metal. It will not find the needle made from bone, or plastic, or ceramic or something else. There is no pattern for terrorism. It can not be found and prevented.
The story of the need to find the needle in the haystack using that giant electromagnet is therefore not plausible. Storing and analyzing all global cellphone calls is neither necessary nor sufficient to fight the conflict method of terrorism. But storing those phone calls can be a tool of control. Caught up in a demonstration or accident? Now the state can go back and find out not only to whom you talked when but also what you talked about. Soon not just yesterday's calls but those you will then have made years ago. There is likely something in all those pasts calls (and emails and chats) that you do not want others to know.
Greenwald is right in saying: "It is a globalized system designed to destroy all privacy." But destroying privacy is not the primary or ultimate purpose of the system. The only plausible purpose of this striving for total information is its use for total control. It is the foundation of a totalitarian state.
Posted by b on June 29, 2013 at 11:55 UTC | Permalink
« previous page"...The problem is that GM, partly owned by US taxpayers, owns a piece of Peugeot, and that means that Peugeot had to abide by US sanctions imposed on the concocted Iran nuclear threat..."
The problem is easily solved: France orders Peugeot to fulfill its contracts with Iraq and to ignore GM's orders. It nationalises the company and maintains full employment at the plants.
Like Sarkozy, Hollande heads a government which refuses to defy the USA and is ready to sacrifice the living standards of millions of French people rather than to offend the US based corporate ruling class. This is a choice not a necessity.
I argue that it is proving to be an unpopular choice as living standards and faith in the future are rapidly disappearing in the US dominated NATO countries, and those dependent upon them.
The next generation will, and ought to, insist on governments putting first things first: a guaranteed basic income, the right to a good quality liberal education, equal access to the best quality health care and cradle to grave social security. Plus privacy, civil liberties, radical reforms of representative systems and a serious commitment to protect the environment.
The truth is that such a politics is not only what Europeans want but would be wildly popular everywhere. And nowhere more than in the United States.
What the current revelations are making clear, to layers of the population which have long refused to believe the eyes that are telling them that they are living in a Police state, is that denial is no longer an option. This will involve millions more in defiance of the oligarchical government. And these millions will not simply be those inclined to the "left", on the contrary, nationalists and conservatives of many kinds are genuinely offended by the Pentagon's Gestapo strategies. Not many people enjoy having their mail read and their personal lives monitored by highly paid government employees and contractors.
People are getting mad as hell. And they aren't going to take it anymore.
Posted by: bevin | Jul 1 2013 2:35 utc | 102
@bevin #101
Correct. I guess what I'm suggesting implicitly is that politicians that don't object to their own citizens losing their jobs -- their jobs!! -- just because the US says so, for no good reason, and then these same pols cry because the US is listening to the chatter of these pols -- these pols should not be taken seriously.
And so citizens don't take them seriously. They say give us beer, bacon and hockey, we don't give a damn about the rest. Or at least one of them.
@101 - "People are getting mad as hell. And they aren't going to take it anymore."
I'm not convinced. Never underestimate the power of inertia or apathy. Huge scandals vanish into the memory hole on a regular basis. I hope you're right.
@102 - That was a generalization re. Canadians, the most complacent society I've ever seen/experienced. I hate hockey, not keen on bacon.
Posted by: Sasha | Jul 1 2013 3:20 utc | 104
@101
The most disgusting thing is to watch these generals say "we'll this isn't gonna change anything. We're not gonna stop doing this" like it's their decision.
Cretins. Strutting about in their dress blues like they own the place...
Posted by: guest77 | Jul 1 2013 3:25 utc | 105
[Generals] . .. Strutting about in their dress blues like they own the place.
Where's Harry Truman?
"It's the fellows who go to West Point and are trained to think they're gods in uniform that I plan to take apart".--Harry S Truman"I didn't fire him [General MacArthur] because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was, but that's not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three quarters of them would be in jail." -- Harry Truman
@Sasha, like the story a few days ago where Chinese employees held their US boss hostage, he was doing a bunk, closing the factory and never paid the wages, and the US media more or less stated 'Unsafe to invest in China', but the kicker was, the Company was closing down to open in India as it was cheaper, no outrage on that, just sympathy for the clown, nada on jobs back to the US - so your right, not only does shit fall into an abyss, but they twist the mellow.
Posted by: kev | Jul 1 2013 5:32 utc | 108
@ 108 Kev - Great point and example. I wasn't aware of the details, just that there was some sort of dispute over back pay or severance pay. A sad reflection of the state of journalism in the MSM, but not surprising. I guess if you own both the media and the object of interest, a deep analysis of which may raise more undesirable questions, it will become a object of disinterest. In regard to the current scandal, the interests of the media are more than likely intertwined with the interests of the corporatocracy, so they'll have to be dragged by their ears to really delve into it, and will lose the scent at the earliest opportunity. It's great that people on this site and others of the sort are railing against it, but with the notable exception of the Guardian's readership, is there really that much outrage and call to arms?
I read this on the CBC - "...a survey by the Pew Research Centre found that a majority of Americans think that tracking phone records to investigate potential terror threats is more important than the right to privacy." Well, 'nuff said - if that's the case, this story will die with barely a whimper, maybe some cosmetic changes to the program and some comforting platitudes about accountability and such.
We're like Lyndon LaRouche - a freakin' voice in the wilderness trying to get people worked up about something important, but the ennui has such a stranglehold on the masses (and they don't read this anyways). That's why I usually don't post here - no minds to change in this joint. Guardian's not exactly fertile soil for planting seeds of doubt either, they're of like mind too. On to USA Today, WaPo or something...
Posted by: Sasha | Jul 1 2013 6:55 utc | 109
100) second that. Public servants who join firms that get public contracts is a racket.
101) We tend to think in Germany that the economic growth concept as a measure for economic health is unsustainable probably because we depend very heavily on the manufacture of cars. Every Chinese adult a car and the world is unlivable.
Posted by: somebody | Jul 1 2013 7:45 utc | 110
Don Bacon @77 wrote:
"Probably in the sure-to-be-built Obama Library there will be a whole wing entitled: 'He tried, but . .' That wing should never be built."
It will only have one wing. It will be the right wing.
Posted by: Yonatan | Jul 1 2013 8:23 utc | 111
Don Bacon
You are of course fully right, EU are too much of a puppet to the US to do anything. Again the news have already vaned, this will be buried very soon without any friction.
US could drop bombs on EU soil and EU would still adhere to the US. Thats the kind of relationsship we're talking about.
Posted by: Anonymous | Jul 1 2013 8:33 utc | 112
i wonder if the calls are private property, and so NSA has engaged in theft...or are owned by the state? in which case we live in a non free controlled state
Posted by: brian | Jul 1 2013 9:03 utc | 113
New NSA leaks show how US is bugging its European allies
US intelligence services are spying on the European Union mission in New York and its embassy in Washington, according to the latest top secret US National Security Agency documents leaked by the whistleblower Edward Snowden.
One document lists 38 embassies and missions, describing them as "targets". It details an extraordinary range of spying methods used against each target, from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialised antennae.
Along with traditional ideological adversaries and sensitive Middle Eastern countries, the list of targets includes the EU missions and the French, Italian and Greek embassies, as well as a number of other American allies, including Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India and Turkey. The list in the September 2010 document does not mention the UK, Germany or other western European states.
One of the bugging methods mentioned is codenamed Dropmire, which, according to a 2007 document, is "implanted on the Cryptofax at the EU embassy, DC" – an apparent reference to a bug placed in a commercially available encrypted fax machine used at the mission. The NSA documents note the machine is used to send cables back to foreign affairs ministries in European capitals.
The US intelligence service codename for the bugging operation targeting the EU mission at the United Nations is "Perdido". Among the documents leaked by Snowden is a floor plan of the mission in midtown Manhattan. The methods used against the mission include the collection of data transmitted by implants, or bugs, placed inside electronic devices, and another covert operation that appears to provide a copy of everything on a targeted computer's hard drive.
The operation against the French mission to the UN had the covername "Blackfoot" and the one against its embassy in Washington was "Wabash". The Italian embassy in Washington was known to the NSA as both "Bruneau" and "Hemlock".
The eavesdropping of the Greek UN mission was known as "Powell" and the operation against its embassy was referred to as "Klondyke".
More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/30/nsa-leaks-us-bugging-european-allies
Posted by: Harry | Jul 1 2013 10:14 utc | 114
So Obama goes to Africa as the heat at home is far too much. Of course he did not want to go as Mandela is about to croak, that would just be a bonus, or why would he state in the News? "I am not here to see Mandela", OK, question, who the fuck goes to S.Africa and does not want to see Mandela more so when it could be the last time? Granted Biko is dead, but that is not an excuse. Yet he leaves Kerry in the firing line over the 'leaks' and he ‘pissed’ on the helm of the mother ship, in the oncoming wind; the golden shower recipient fired blanks; ‘ he knows nothing’, but will get back on that (Check is in the post).
He basically stated in his closing everyone else spies ,( I get it 2 wrongs and all that, but - you got caught and by your own). but will need to read the reports. So he does not get the reports, or he does not read them - What is your Job again, as I seem to have forgotten why tax payer pay you (Both)?
Not on topic but interesting - Looks like the UN in its aspirations for getting it's foot in Syria have been kicked in the ribs, so it done the next best thing, made the biggest 'Peacekeeping' mission in its history to – Mali! A Peace deal between the government and Tuareg rebels was signed on 18 June 2013 - I get it?
Posted by: kev | Jul 1 2013 10:38 utc | 115
@Anyone (Everybody and not a user by that name). What I find stunning is no stock slump on the 'associated' entities from the Snowden revelations i.e. FB. AOL, etc. I don’t get it, as normally a rumor, a tweet, something anal creates havoc, this is pretty epic and nothing! - Why?
Posted by: kev | Jul 1 2013 11:30 utc | 116
Kev @ 115: "What I find stunning is no stock slump on the 'associated' entities from the Snowden revelations i.e. FB. AOL, etc. I don’t get it, as normally a rumor, a tweet, something anal creates havoc, this is pretty epic and nothing! - Why?"
The most obvious answer, IMO, is that this is not epic in the least.
@114/117 kev
Booz Allen stock did drop by 5%. Doesn't seem huge. Not sure where it is at now, but it had some affect.
By "stock" you mean "stock market"?
mashable DOT com/2013/06/10/booz-allen-stock-nsa/
Posted by: guest77 | Jul 1 2013 12:39 utc | 119
Kev @ 117
You point out that stocks failed to slump.
Yet when something that you think is "epic" happens they would or should because there will be fall out..
But that didn't happen. Correct?
I don't want to take anything you said out of context. That would be very disrespectful
So..
"What I find stunning is no stock slump on the 'associated' entities from the Snowden revelations i.e. FB. AOL, etc. I don’t get it, as normally a rumor, a tweet, something anal creates havoc, this is pretty epic and nothing! - Why?"
I don't know how to elaborate on something that seems self-evident
No reaction= Not epic
Kev
December 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/16program.html?_r=2&
Months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying, according to government officials.
Under a presidential order signed in 2002, the intelligence agency has monitored the international telephone calls and international e-mail messages of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people inside the United States without warrants
The previously undisclosed decision to permit some eavesdropping inside the country without court approval was a major shift in American intelligence-gathering practices, particularly for the National Security Agency, whose mission is to spy on communications abroad. As a result, some officials familiar with the continuing operation have questioned whether the surveillance has stretched, if not crossed, constitutional limits on legal searches.
The White House asked The New York Times not to publish this article, arguing that it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. After meeting with senior administration officials to hear their concerns, the newspaper delayed publication for a year to conduct additional reporting. Some information that administration officials argued could be useful to terrorists has been omitted.
2005 to 2013
that makes Snowden's leaks very old news
guest77 | Jul 1, 2013 8:39:07 AM | 118, yes, theStock' markets; it does not seem fazed in the least, more so, the US entities. I saw the 'BA' drop 6% I think, but hardly a rock in the bucket, more a ripple in a lake. As I said, even a whiff of negativity, the markets spike downwards, this seems pretty controlled.
Example argument I heard from a broker - Leaks; that's what happens when you privatize key government functions - The retort on my side; OK, explain, Bradley Manning? The reply, "call you back, have a incoming, got to go". In short, 'Fuck if I know, or do I want to!
Exactly the reason why we have contractors doing the dirty work and not government agencies, is to circumvent Congress and to defer blame, the kicker is it is all to often with impunity. Yet; the contractor does not grant clearances, the DoD clears them -Or so they should, but if you need a little bit of flexibility, blind eye works, and the backlash can be mitigated, it's just paperwork and 'containment'. If this guy shouldn't have been able to get or hold clearance, that has nothing to do with Booz Allen's practices, they do mostly try and employ those who already do, as he was; just list any job offer in this criteria, and you will see the same prerequisites. In the same light they seem immune from failing, not the ‘To big to fail’ but possibly ‘To paid/connected to fail’.
As for myself, I knew for example (But not limited to this one minor example) a mentally instable and dysfunctional ex-cop (Kicked out for that reason) that got hired by TSA, then the UN as US UNPOL (UN Police) in a function way above his pay grade and abilities, but was in the ‘DynCorp’ click, and knew of ‘confidential’ code cables and contents sent Mission to UNHQ even if they were encrypted and well beyond his function or contact base; he did like a drink, then chatty, thus removed.
As a result, his TSA connections got me flagged, his retribution. On that note, flags in the system can be by any TSA agent (Most contractors and ex-police) and the system does not give reasons or grounds, nor can it be removed.
In that, the spy issue is far deeper, and beyond the average citizen but inclusive as each 'employee' is related to a citizen, be it brother, mother, father, even friend or foe. Certain people can in turn have a power so controlling and damaging, likewise abuse it and simply get away with it, and all based on what they did wrong; that is the failure. Point in case, a bad average TSA worker (Not the brightest bulb on the X-mass tree) can take actions equating to what one would expect from the highest authority and protocols without being in such a standing or even on legitimate grounds and are effectively protected in doing so, that is a total breakdown of the RoL and due process; as for the recipient, unfortunately with no redress.
Posted by: kev | Jul 1 2013 13:34 utc | 122
President Vladimir Putin says NSA leaker Edward Snowden may stay in Russia, if he wants to, but only if he stops activities aimed against the United States.
“There is one condition if he wants to remain here: he must stop his work aimed at damaging our American partners. As odd as it may sound from me,” Putin told a media conference in Moscow.
Act II Scene I - The plot thickens..
Posted by: Sasha | Jul 1 2013 15:34 utc | 123
What a f'ing sell out Putin is.
http://rt.com/news/putin-snowden-asylum-extradite-489/
Posted by: Anonymous | Jul 1 2013 15:34 utc | 124
With regards to surveillance: I'm pretty sure MLK wouldn't be able to lead the civil rights movement today; instead, he would have been discredited early on for plagiarism/infidelity/whatever weaknesses they could find.
Posted by: s | Jul 1 2013 16:56 utc | 125
I don't think Putin has sold out anyone.
The bottom line is that he's NOT extraditing Snowden, so really, that's all that matters in the end. His words are being carefully chose to prevent further damage to Russia/US relations which are already at cold war levels. Bottom-line: If Putin really felt real solidarity with the US regarding Snowden, he would've handed him over. Actions speak louder than words......and Putin's words amount to one big non-sequitor since it's not actually Snowden who's doing the leaking at this stage, but Glenn Greenwald/The Guardian. Snowden no longer has control over what's leaked since he's already handed the files over to them - I'm sure Putin knows this.
Posted by: RC | Jul 1 2013 22:31 utc | 126
@RC | Jul 1, 2013 6:31:39 PM | 126, concur, much like reprimanding your employee than give him a little praise, it takes out the sting, and set’s a path to have a settled understanding - it’s called diplomacy in this case. In fact Putin took a mature stance and one expected, more so he made a statement.
Posted by: kev | Jul 1 2013 23:24 utc | 127
@Penny | Jul 1, 2013 9:15:44 AM | 120, that is not a reply, or at least one I can rationalize; "No reaction= Not epic"! Epic, as in 'extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope'. We are in the digital and information age;
It is in every news media and medium, on every political forum, highly covered and raised a huge response, most negative and many with outrage from global leaders and citizens alike, so it is pretty epic.
Or; without being rude, I am not getting your point, happens to me sometimes, I don’t do cryptic, as hurts my head?
Posted by: kev | Jul 1 2013 23:36 utc | 128
RC, Kev
Uh so what difference is there between Obama that dont want Snowden to expose more bad things compared with Putin, who just said the same thing?
Posted by: Anonymous | Jul 2 2013 11:04 utc | 129
Kev @ 128 "It is in every news media and medium, on every political forum, highly covered and raised a huge response, most negative and many with outrage from global leaders and citizens alike, so it is pretty epic"
Epic for who?
Not for the stock market as you have pointed out.
Is it really epic for the global political leaders?
Or are they playing to domestic audiences?
I suspect the latter.
Global political leaders would know they are spied on.
Recall this?
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1227-26.htm
"In early March 2003, journalists at the London-based Observer reported that the NSA was secretly participating in the U.S. government's high-pressure campaign for the U.N. Security Council to approve a pro-war resolution. A few days after the Observer revealed the text of an NSA memo about U.S. spying on Security Council delegations, I asked Daniel Ellsberg to assess the importance of the story. "This leak," he replied, "is more timely and potentially more important than the Pentagon Papers." The key word was "timely."
10 years ago. Making Snowden a yawn. Sorry. The whole media show is a snooze fest
I left the link to the article from 05 NYT's
relinked
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/16program.html?_r=2&
talked about it at my blog
I will quote further from the article
"Under a presidential order signed in 2002, the intelligence agency has monitored the international telephone calls and international e-mail messages of hundreds, perhaps thousands, (perhaps 100's of millions) of people inside the United States without warrants
So, what has Snowden told us that is new? Earth shattering? Startling? Surprising?
He has told us nothing.
Then going back to the 2005 article again
"It's almost a mainstay of this country that the N.S.A. only does foreign searches."
So the NSA has always done foreign spying. It is a mainstay of the US.
Snowden's revelations are, again, non epic.
Someone left this at my place
China knew the US was spying
"Clearly China was aware..
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1265416/quantum-communications-system-was-used-party-congress-beijing
Date: 2012, before Snowden."
The only thing that is epic is the news coverage. Which is brought over to the blogs and forums. Save for some skeptical places.
So the questions that begs asking is why is the MSM coverage about this so epic, when it is clearly nothing new.
Another comment from my place:
"Duncan Campbell blew the lid on global eavesdropping in the form of project Echelon way back in 1988."
Kev, not trying to be cryptic and I don't want your head to hurt
Snowden is simply much ado about nothing. I suspect you are catching on to that, what with you pondering the lack of response by the stocks..???
I can get into the whole saga of the hero and how humans love a good story.. Snowden delivers on the hero's journey meme.
One of the oldest narratives known to man, think Jesus Christ
Which is why it resonates with humanity.
And why the media presents it so often.
Good for psychological head games
What is often more interesting is what the media ignores completely
Like the triple meltdown still radiating the planet over two years later.. Is that getting much coverage? No. Why?
That is epic. That is huge. And nothing. Just silence.
So epic in the media = this is what the ptb's want you to be distracted with
Hoping your head will hurt less?
@Penny | Jul 2, 2013 7:15:51 AM | 130, now I can gel with your sentiment, 'The penny has dropped' - more so with the Japan issue, that is 'epic' and devastating, in fact the most damming event this centaury in my opinion.
In terms of 'epic' and Snowden; in the past this was always MSM limited, or flash in the pan cover, it was conjecture, it was 'Yeah, they spy, what's new'. Now it's past the MSM, it's gone Geo-political, it's on the lips of all, thus for me (Again, not seeing the woods for the tree's) it resonated home, as it did for most; our privacy is 'Truly' not private - call it a revelation, or something like 'our kid is really a bad boy', but we always hold back in the hope he was not. In turn, yes, that is still 'epic' as in 'illusion' and we are duped.
In that, and given all the other 'issues' what you are saying, and I agree, is that Snowden is a 'media' hyped diversion, very much orchestrated and the irony, true at that, that is the cleverness of the deception; one much needed for the masses, as we all feel it as personal, rather than the detachment from foreign Wars, risks, issues etc.
In turn we vent and focus on something 'tangible' in our lives (We have little), something personal, and quite simple, social media and comm.’s (Our i-phones/Androids) are now vital, so rather than see the intended agendas and matters that are critical, we focus on 'Me'.
Are our respective Gov’s so deep that this is needed? It’s devastating to humanity if this is the case! I just hope that this is nothing more than what is looks like on the surface, otherwise; 'It's not life as we know it' - It’s more matrix driven, stuff of movies and David (as in Blain).
Posted by: kev | Jul 2 2013 13:01 utc | 131
In all the comments here, I have not seen one person say "what can I do?"
What actions can I undertake to alter this disastrous course mankind is on?
Here is something I harp on at my place..
Stop participating in their system
The ptb's built their system for their benefit
Not ours.
Is that not obvious enough yet?
It is time for each of us to be heroic and make the changes necessary to alter the paradigm
Because if we don't.. and we keep looking for hero's outside of ourselves
I will quote you here Kev:
" It’s devastating to humanity if this is the case!"
Yes, it is and will get even worse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Would the EU be better off economically if they weren't under the US financial thumb?
Projected GDP growth year 2014 (%)
world 4.04
USA 2.95
EU 1.282
France 0.882
Germany 1.455
Spain 0.738
China 8.241
India 6.23
Iran 1.089
Japan 1.412
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jul 1 2013 1:30 utc | 101