Computing UK: NSA can tap a third of world's telecoms.

[madfloridian]

Even our allies overseaa are concerned about the FISA bill just passed. Methinks our Democrats better get their butts back to DC and do some fixing.

Uncle Sam is a great listener

The US National Security Agency (NSA) now has the legal right to monitor over a third of the world's telecoms traffic.

Under new provisions of the Protect America Act 2007 recently signed into legislation, as an amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978, the NSA can monitor all traffic originating, passing through or terminating in the US without requiring a court order.

According to telecoms analysts, in excess of 35 per cent of the world's voice and non-voice telecoms traffic is routed through US hubs.

The bill was hotly debated in the US House of Representatives with right-leaning congressional proponents saying the amendment is necessary in the ongoing war on terrorism, and left-leaning representatives arguing that it would undermine civil liberties.

"In the 30 years since Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, telecommunications technology has dramatically changed," said congressman Lamar Smith, representing the 21st district of Texas.

This is ridiculous, Congress. Get back and fix this fiasco of a bill. May you have learned well from this.

[DCKit]

1. 35%? When do we get control of the 65% that are being used for terra communications? n/t

[LiberalFighter]

2. How do we know they won't re-route eletronic communications thru another country

so they can justify eavesdropping on 100% of all calls?

[madfloridian]

3. Right....why not control 100%.

But then we probably are getting access to a lot more than that.