Satellite-Surveillance Program to Begin Despite Privacy Concerns

[lanlady]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Homeland Security will proceed with the first phase of a controversial satellite-surveillance program, even though an independent review found the department hasn't yet ensured the program will comply with privacy laws.

Congress provided partial funding for the program in a little-debated $634 billion spending measure that will fund the government until early March. For the past year, the Bush administration had been fighting Democratic lawmakers over the spy program, known as the National Applications Office.

The program is designed to provide federal, state and local officials with extensive access to spy-satellite imagery -- but no eavesdropping -- to assist with emergency response and other domestic-security needs, such as identifying where ports or border areas are vulnerable to terrorism.

Since the department proposed the program a year ago, several Democratic lawmakers have said that turning the spy lens on America could violate Americans' privacy and civil liberties unless adequate safeguards were required.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122282336428992785.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Time to go buy a wide-brimmed hat

Something that can mask my identity from government spy sattelites. Maybe I should adopt a burqa, or something similar to the garb worn by the Siblings of the Shroud in Steve Perry's Matador series.

[MuseRider]

4. For you.

From yesterday http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4133008

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. An excellent find!

Thanks for the :rofl:

[JDPriestly]

2. K&R

Of course, if you live in a city, you have helicopters overhead frequently (used to be more at our house). Of course, at least the helicopters make noise and you know they are there (since you wake you up).

[dipsydoodle]

3. Now watch this trailer

http://www.eagleeyemovie.com/?utm_source=ComedyCentral-FlashAd&utm_medium=PointrollFlashAd&utm_content=ComedyCentral-The_Daily_Show_Hmpg_RDBK-Rectangle-300x250&utm_campaign=EagleEyeMedia

[merwin]

17. Eagle Eye is about a rogue computer system, slightly different.

Still a very good movie though. I would recommend it, as long as you can forgo reality for a couple hours to see a good sci-fi movie.

[dipsydoodle]

18. I was misled by the trailer in that case

The film isn't out in the UK yet as far as I'm aware but I've asked Amazon to pre-advise me of DVD release date. Thanks for info anyway.

[thecrow]

5. STOP!! Spend the money on the bailout instead!!

They *did* say $634 Billion....
That's a big number.
We taxpayers, I'm sure, would rather the money be put to better use.

[Ian David]

6. Say it with me. Four more months. That's all. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

7. That would be EXCELLENT for tracking Rove when Obama takes office

He'll have nowhere to hide.

And no high resolution cameras would be needed to spot HIM.

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. I'm thinking smoke signals may be the only safe way to

communicate. Just about anything else might have someone eavesdropping in.

What a sad state of affairs.

[gordianot]

9. This has been going on for some time.

Satellite photography has been used for years by the Department of Agriculture to monitor the number and type of buildings in the United States. If you do not think other agencies have access to this I would be glad to sell you a bridge in Alaska.

[reggie the dog]

13. Hell, google earth

nearly lets anyone in the world see lots of places in detail, you can see people but not features, I always thought the goverment had the next couple levels of zoom taken care of....

[TankLV]

21. ...in what respect...?

[dgibby]

10. My neighborhood was under aerial surveillance

When the Feds were looking for Eric Rudolph, we noticed a small plane circling our neighborhood day after day. My next-door neighbor, who worked at the AFB, told me it was the Feds,who were surveilling one of his family members who lived 3 houses up from my house. Weird to think they were able to pick up conservations, etc. We used to wave to them when they flew over.

[reggie the dog]

12. look down

while sparking up....

[reggie the dog]

14. can they really hear us from space???

no eavesdropping???? they can hear us from space? they can listen to everything we say, and when we moan whilst having sex......tyranny I say......

[reggie the dog]

15. x

x

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

20. You don't know? AT&T does that for them.

I heard they can eavesdrop on you even when the phone is turned off.

[reggie the dog]

16. Them satemalites done real good

at catchin ole Osama Hussaine.....eh...wait a minnit.....

[Mnemosyne]

19. Screw them.

:middlefinger:

KnR!