• Boundless Informant: the NSA's secret tool to track global surveillance data
    23 replies, posted
[QUOTE] The National Security Agency has developed a powerful tool for recording and analysing where its intelligence comes from, raising questions about its repeated assurances to Congress that it cannot keep track of all the surveillance it performs on American communications. The Guardian has acquired top-secret documents about the NSA datamining tool, called Boundless Informant, that details and even maps by country the voluminous amount of information it collects from computer and telephone networks. The focus of the internal NSA tool is on counting and categorizing the records of communications, known as metadata, rather than the content of an email or instant message. The Boundless Informant documents show the agency collecting almost 3 billion pieces of intelligence from US computer networks over a 30-day period ending in March 2013. One document says it is designed to give NSA officials answers to questions like, "What type of coverage do we have on country X" in "near real-time by asking the SIGINT [signals intelligence] infrastructure." An NSA factsheet about the program, acquired by the Guardian, says: "The tool allows users to select a country on a map and view the metadata volume and select details about the collections against that country." Under the heading "Sample use cases", the factsheet also states the tool shows information including: "How many records (and what type) are collected against a particular country." A snapshot of the Boundless Informant data, contained in a top secret NSA "global heat map" seen by the Guardian, shows that in March 2013 the agency collected 97bn pieces of intelligence from computer networks worldwide. Iran was the country where the largest amount of intelligence was gathered, with more than 14bn reports in that period, followed by 13.5bn from Pakistan. Jordan, one of America's closest Arab allies, came third with 12.7bn, Egypt fourth with 7.6bn and India fifth with 6.3bn. The heatmap gives each nation a color code based on how extensively it is subjected to NSA surveillance. The color scheme ranges from green (least subjected to surveillance) through yellow and orange to red (most surveillance). The disclosure of the internal Boundless Informant system comes amid a struggle between the NSA and its overseers in the Senate over whether it can track the intelligence it collects on American communications. The NSA's position is that it is not technologically feasible to do so. At a hearing of the Senate intelligence committee In March this year, Democratic senator Ron Wyden asked James Clapper, the director of national intelligence: "Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?" "No sir," replied Clapper. Judith Emmel, an NSA spokeswoman, told the Guardian in a response to the latest disclosures: "NSA has consistently reported – including to Congress – that we do not have the ability to determine with certainty the identity or location of all communicants within a given communication. That remains the case." Other documents seen by the Guardian further demonstrate that the NSA does in fact break down its surveillance intercepts which could allow the agency to determine how many of them are from the US. The level of detail includes individual IP addresses. [/QUOTE] [IMG]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/6/8/1370715185657/boundless-heatmap-large-001.jpg[/IMG] [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/08/nsa-boundless-informant-global-datamining#zoomed-picture[/url]
whoa... evil genius level with the "heat" map
Pretty scary stuff, im just thinking what they are gonna be able to do 10 years from now is when shit really goes down and we are gonna be powerless to stop them (the leaders).
James Clapper. A true American.
wow, brazil is the same color of motherfucking russia, what did we do? :tinfoil:
And of course it's Germany who's ratting out europe [IMG]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-argh.gif[/IMG]
What the fuck? They even developed a stylish logo for it, what is this shit?
[QUOTE=Madtoker;40978225]Pretty scary stuff, im just thinking what they are gonna be able to do 10 years from now is when shit really goes down and we are gonna be powerless to stop them (the leaders).[/QUOTE] We're already powerless, we're just lead to believe otherwise. Regardless of how the world feels about it, this program will continue, legal or not. The NSA does whatever it wants, if they're told not to, it's pretty much with a wink and knowing smiles. There's literally nothing you or I can do about it though, and short of an incredibly violent armed revolution that removes the current government or the inevitable societal collapse we're headed towards, things will not change. Those with power will continue to trample over those with none, as it has been for centuries.
[QUOTE=Kuro.;40989535]We're already powerless, we're just lead to believe otherwise. [/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure the opposite is true, people like you make my point. We shouldn't give up hope, we should stand in peaceful solidarity, we must speak and discuss, we must inform, but most of all we must love, otherwise that social cataclysm that you mentioned will happen. Be positive and don't give up, we humans are crafty, and there is more of us than there are of them. [editline]11th June 2013[/editline] We've got each-other on our side, all they've got is paper.
This is starting to sound like the backplot to Enemy of the State.
Reminds me of the GW ai developed by the Patriots. (Metal Gear)
[QUOTE=Kuro.;40989535]We're already powerless, we're just lead to believe otherwise. Regardless of how the world feels about it, this program will continue, legal or not. The NSA does whatever it wants, if they're told not to, it's pretty much with a wink and knowing smiles. There's literally nothing you or I can do about it though, and short of an incredibly violent armed revolution that removes the current government or the inevitable societal collapse we're headed towards, things will not change. Those with power will continue to trample over those with none, as it has been for centuries.[/QUOTE] People like you are the reason your precious 'Murica is dying. Apathy because "We can't do shit". Get the fuck out there and protest.
[QUOTE=Kuro.;40989535]We're already powerless, we're just lead to believe otherwise. Regardless of how the world feels about it, this program will continue, legal or not. The NSA does whatever it wants, if they're told not to, it's pretty much with a wink and knowing smiles. There's literally nothing you or I can do about it though, and short of an incredibly violent armed revolution that removes the current government or the inevitable societal collapse we're headed towards, things will not change. Those with power will continue to trample over those with none, as it has been for centuries.[/QUOTE] Step one: Get fed up with this shit (this step has been done) Step two: Tell your politicians to fuck off, vote for protest parties Step three (optional): form your own party for people fed up with this shit Step four: elect someone who will fucking do something Of course because of America's flawed "democracy" said party will rarely, if ever, get the amount of seats it should. But does it matter? If you start convincing people to vote for a new party, the other parties will surely notice. Of course it's easier to sit on your ass at home and tell the internet "this country is going to shit" and when it inevitably does smugly say "told you"
[QUOTE=deltasquid;40991288]Step one: Get fed up with this shit (this step has been done) Step two: Tell your politicians to fuck off, vote for protest parties Step three (optional): form your own party for people fed up with this shit Step four: elect someone who will fucking do something Of course because of America's flawed "democracy" said party will rarely, if ever, get the amount of seats it should. But does it matter? If you start convincing people to vote for a new party, the other parties will surely notice. Of course it's easier to sit on your ass at home and tell the internet "this country is going to shit" and when it inevitably does smugly say "told you"[/QUOTE] That isn't easy in America. Its easier in parliamentary states.
The problem with voting for a "third party" (as it's referred to) is that it does more harm than good. You take away votes from the person who you least hate (be it republican or democrat) and allow the other side a higher chance of winning. Example: If a lot of democrat voters are fed up with both sides, and vote on the new "Facepunch Party of Awesome", this just means that the republicans will win because now there is no chance for the democrats to get enough votes, and a third party never receives enough votes. The system is flawed, so unless you can convince millions of americans to vote for the third party, you won't win.
[QUOTE=Gnomical;40994160]The problem with voting for a "third party" (as it's referred to) is that it does more harm than good. You take away votes from the person who you least hate (be it republican or democrat) and allow the other side a higher chance of winning. Example: If a lot of democrat voters are fed up with both sides, and vote on the new "Facepunch Party of Awesome", this just means that the republicans will win because now there is no chance for the democrats to get enough votes, and a third party never receives enough votes. The system is flawed, so unless you can convince millions of americans to vote for the third party, you won't win.[/QUOTE] I understand this is a problem because the USA use a First Past the Post system (which I could describe as either evil or clinically insane) and it's gerrymandered to fuck but you guys need to at least try. Or, you know, this is that one moment where I think your second amendment could be used for something worthwhile other than shooting cans in your back yard
[QUOTE=deltasquid;40994275]I understand this is a problem because the USA use a First Past the Post system (which I could describe as either evil or clinically insane) and it's gerrymandered to fuck but you guys need to at least try. Or, you know, this is that one moment where I think your second amendment could be used for something worthwhile other than shooting cans in your back yard[/QUOTE] Its easier for Americans to sit on their asses and do nothing though.
[QUOTE=laserguided;40994317]Its easier for Americans to sit on their asses and do nothing though.[/QUOTE] In that case they deserve what they get, to be honest.
[QUOTE=deltasquid;40994275]Or, you know, this is that one moment where I think your second amendment could be used for something worthwhile other than shooting cans in your back yard[/QUOTE] Armed revolution would likely fail unless you could get literally everyone with guns to follow you. Even then, it would get squashed by the local police, national guard, and armed forces pretty quickly, unless you can also get them on your side. The most likely scenario is that because of this global NSA eavesdropping, it would be shut down before it even began because their system likely picks up words like 'armed revolution' and they can tip the ATF off to your activities. Not to mention the fact that peoples principles are going to vanish when they realize making a meaningful change is going to entail getting shot at and probably long prison sentences if they aren't killed outright. So basically it's gotten to the point where the government is so powerful the second amendment is kind of useless, even if we decide to excercise that right.
[QUOTE=SinjinOmega;40991259]People like you are the reason your precious 'Murica is dying. Apathy because "We can't do shit". Get the fuck out there and protest.[/QUOTE] I believe that protests do nothing.
[QUOTE=deltasquid;40991288]Step one: Get fed up with this shit (this step has been done) Step two: Tell your politicians to fuck off, vote for protest parties Step three (optional): form your own party for people fed up with this shit Step four: elect someone who will fucking do something Of course because of America's flawed "democracy" said party will rarely, if ever, get the amount of seats it should. But does it matter? If you start convincing people to vote for a new party, the other parties will surely notice. Of course it's easier to sit on your ass at home and tell the internet "this country is going to shit" and when it inevitably does smugly say "told you"[/QUOTE] anyone who gets in office in a position to cause real change to the system would have so much money thrown at them, they'd take it and do what they're told to do. legally through lobbying [editline]12th June 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=SinjinOmega;40991259]People like you are the reason your precious 'Murica is dying. Apathy because "We can't do shit". Get the fuck out there and protest.[/QUOTE] what did occupy accomplish at it's height? what has it accomplished a few years down the road? protesting is meaningless in the US
[QUOTE=deltasquid;40991288]Step four: elect someone who will fucking do something[/QUOTE] Hahahaha, at least some of us learned the lesson with Obama.
[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;41012911]anyone who gets in office in a position to cause real change to the system would have so much money thrown at them, they'd take it and do what they're told to do. legally through lobbying [editline]12th June 2013[/editline] what did occupy accomplish at it's height? what has it accomplished a few years down the road? protesting is meaningless in the US[/QUOTE] Occupy's biggest flaw was that it had no leadership, and thus no direction. But the media is also partially to blame and probably did the most damage, as they portrayed the protesters as smelly hippies and angry kids that wanted to break shit. They never once interviewed someone who looked normal, it was always the rattiest, hobo-est looking people in the crowd. That I imagine turned a whole lot of people away from joining in.
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