Government Internet Surveillance Up

Harvey Manfrenjensenton writes "According to this story at Newhouse News Service, the assault on Americans' rights known as the Patriot Act, passed by Congress in October, has produced results that are as disturbing -- and rampant -- as could have been anticipated. Law enforcement used to need a court order to tap your phone, read your mail, etc. Now they just need a whim. ISP's and Telcos can barely keep up with the volume of requests by Feds wanting to read your email." EFF's analysis of the Patriot Act is good reading.

Only 18 years behind

[Anonymous Coward]

Hmm, we're only a little over 18 years behind Big Brother's forcasted schedule...Next we'll have video cameras on top of our computer monitors and TV screens...
What's that on top my monitor? A Web Cam! NOOOOOOOO! It has begun.

Not a joke?

[twentycavities]

Wow. I thought the whole "patriot act" thing was a joke.

Don't forget to register as a patriot [whitehouse.org]!

Obvious...

[Drakula]

At first I thought it was wierd that there was no "OBVIOUS" tag in front of this headline. Then I realized this isn't FARK [fark.com]...

Interesting...

[Anonymous Coward]

I didn't notice any increased surviellance.

Hey...if they wanna see my nudie pic collection...that's their business...it's not like I encrypt the fucking things.

well what do we expect...

[PhunkyOne]

This ties in wonderfully with the brilliant idea from the Feds to use Microsoft Passport. One really bad idea deserves a companion.

Canada...

[YoungHack]

At Truman State University there were fliers put up for a "town meeting" to discuss the then-new Patriat Act. I don't think I'll ever forget them. They said in large words:

CANADA
Looking better than ever...

Re:Canada...

[robsmama]

YES, please go soon..

MOM

Re:Good.

[quantaman]

Has [slashdot.org] anyone [slashdot.org] else [slashdot.org] noticed [slashdot.org] this [slashdot.org] quote [slashdot.org] showing [slashdot.org] up [slashdot.org] a [slashdot.org] lot? [slashdot.org] I [slashdot.org] havn't [slashdot.org]

And this is only the edge of the iceberg!

Re:It is not about reading your e-mail

[56ker]

Well 95% of the mail I get is junk mail - so they can read that all they like!

Re:Perhaps there's a silver lining

[Dave21212]

"The problem that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face is not insufficient information -- "they are choking on information,"

Good point.

It sounds as if the FBI is browsing the world at -1

Nazification of America

[Anonymous Coward]

Pretty soon we'll have to have microchips embedded into our bodies telling the "man" when and where we take a shit.

Back-Masking on Celine Dion MP3's!!!

[simetra]

That's how real terrorists communicate, they record their secret memos on Celine Dion MP3's. You can only hear them if you play them backwards. Try it and see for yourself!

Ehh, I know its a big deal

[kingharrison]

But do they really want to read all the spam pr0n mail I get? I dont even bother reading it.

Re:It is "USA PATRIOT Act" not "Patriot Act"

[midas2000]

and also, who's gonna vote "no" to something called "usa patriot act."

it's almost nauseating how obviously the name of the act is meant to manipulate people's opinions of it. if you say it's bad, then you hate america. blarg.

cheers,
-midas (www.haduken.com [haduken.com])

Re:Good.

[achurch]

Y [slashdot.org] o [slashdot.org] u [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] c [slashdot.org] o [slashdot.org] u [slashdot.org] l [slashdot.org] d [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] l [slashdot.org] i [slashdot.org] n [slashdot.org] k [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] e [slashdot.org] v [slashdot.org] e [slashdot.org] r [slashdot.org] y [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] c [slashdot.org] h [slashdot.org] a [slashdot.org] r [slashdot.org] a [slashdot.org] c [slashdot.org] t [slashdot.org] e [slashdot.org] r [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] a [slashdot.org] n [slashdot.org] d [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] h [slashdot.org] a [slashdot.org] v [slashdot.org] e [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] l [slashdot.org] e [slashdot.org] f [slashdot.org] t [slashdot.org] o [slashdot.org] v [slashdot.org] e [slashdot.org] r [slashdot.org] s [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] . [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] . [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org] . [slashdot.org]

Re:It is "USA PATRIOT Act" not "Patriot Act"

[Ed Avis]

Coming soon from your friendly legislator:

- The Motherhood and Apple Pie Act
- The God Bless America Act
- The Will Somebody Please Think About The Children Act
- The Digital Millenium... oh no they've used that one already.