FBI Responds To ACLU GPS Tracking Complaint 146
Nerdolicious writes "Ars Technica reports that the ACLU has received a response from the FBI after a formal legal complaint was filed to release documents related to warrantless GPS tracking data. But, as you can see from the two memos the ACLU posted to its website, they have unsurprisingly been redacted to uselessness, consisting almost entirely of large black blocks covering full pages."
Re:This is wrong. (Score:5, Interesting)
Become your congressman.
Government believers (Score:5, Interesting)
People who live and work in the system are usually believers. They will always believe that they are trying to do the right thing, that they are helping not hurting. Every time governments start doing evil things and people finally get prosecuted, they always seem to have convinced themselves that they were somehow acting in then best interests of the people.
But, in this case, I just can't seem to figure out what the person who redacted those pages was thinking. Did they actually believe that it was too dangerous to communicate the FBI's policy to the very people they are supposed to be protecting? I just can't figure out what mental twisting they could have used to justify keeping this secret. I can only conclude that they don't actually believe they are acting in the best interests of the people, but in their own interests. Do they really have so much contempt for us?
This is a very good time to point out how much organizations like the ACLU and EFF are needed. Donate if you can, it's tax deductible!
Re:Government believers (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm going to guess its something like: "If we reveal our policies, then criminals will know our policies and figure out ways around them or loopholes to avoid them".
Complete bullshit, but the kind of thinking that people in the system readily embrace.
Re:Damn Bush and his warrantless crap (Score:3, Interesting)
What's the point of sharing these redacted files.. (Score:5, Interesting)
... when one is marked as UNCLASSIFIED - sensitive, and the other is not marked with a classification at all (that I saw)? If it's not marked with a classification level the I believe that it is automatically unclassified and deemed suitable for public.
Here is an interesting paper on understanding government classification of information.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/eprint/bagley.html [fas.org]
Re:Damn Bush and his warrantless crap (Score:5, Interesting)
1. When a non-corrupt political party comes into existence with a chance of winning.
2. When those who commit serious crimes in official capacities are charged, prosecuted, and jailed for them.
3. When those who fund the politicians are charged, prosecuted, and jailed for their serious crimes.
I have hopes, but I have to get back to improving porcine aerodynamics first.
Re:This is wrong. (Score:4, Interesting)
and then do a about turn once you have become one.
Unfortunately by then, you have forgotten your original agenda and become complacent with bribes.. um ah.. I mean lobby donations.