Would You Like To Keep The Government From Spying On You? Speak Up Now

from the do-you-have-a-secret? dept

Wed, Aug 1st 2012 11:02am — Mike Masnick

We've been talking about the Senate debate over cybersecurity all week, and it appears that it's moving into the endgame process. Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called for cloture -- basically the process to end the debate and move to a vote. In doing so, he also set it up such that he's basically blocking most amendments from being discussed. However, the important Franken/Paul amendment that increases privacy protections will be voted on. In fact, it will be the first amendment to be considered. Whether or not the overall bill passes (and there's some skepticism about whether the votes exist), it is important that the Franken/Paul amendment pass, and Congress get the message that protecting the public from government snooping is an issue the public cares about. Senate staffers have been saying that they've been getting calls on this issue, but more would certainly help.

The folks at Fight for the Future have set up the excellent Do you have a secret? site to highlight why government snooping is a serious problem. Similarly, the EFF has set up a useful site with an embedded Tweet tool (and, yes, tweeting about this also helps -- staffers are paying attention to this, though calling is always best).

The Franken/Paul amendment does have some support, including from Senator Chuck Schumer who made an impassioned speech last night for protecting our privacy rights within this bill, and how important such privacy protections were to the future of the internet.

Either way, today and tomorrow are important days for letting your Senators know that stopping the government from snooping on your private info online is important to you, so speak up.

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Filed Under: al franken, chuck schumer, cybersecurity, privacy, rand paul, senate

18 Comments

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Rikuo (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 11:09am

Does the NSA really need to know I look up hardcore tranny pr0n?
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Aug 2012 @ 11:32am

What, no cat signal?
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 11:36am

Re: I'll see your...
What, nothing involving dogs or horses?
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Tunnen (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 11:50am

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that a government agency, like the NSA or FBI, will get a hold of that information and use it to build a list of people they need to keep an eye on.

Or maybe it's time for me to take my tinfoil hat in for a tune up... =P
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Anonymous Howard, 1 Aug 2012 @ 11:59am

Unfortunately, McCain is one of my senators.

Not much point in calling him.
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Mesonoxian Eve (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 12:00pm

All this does is create another law the NSA can ignore.

If our Constitution can't stop the abuse...
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John Fenderson (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 12:16pm

Re:
How else are they going to find the really good stuff? Don't you think the NSA deserves to fap too?
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Unanimous Cow Herd, 1 Aug 2012 @ 12:25pm

Feedback Fail
Upon submitting a message regarding the new CyberSEcurity legislation.

"Sorry, the web page you have requested is experiencing technical difficulties. The Webmaster has been alerted.

You will be automatically redirected to the www.senate.gov home page after 10 seconds.

If this problem persists, please contact the Office of the Secretary Webmaster at webmaster@sec.senate.gov."

Seems that either they're getting too many emails or they're stuffing their fingers in their ears. Anyone for a guess?
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Aug 2012 @ 12:44pm

Re:
There's always Kyle ...
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Aug 2012 @ 1:12pm

Re:
All the more reason IMO.
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silverscarcat (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 1:15pm

I called my senators this morning and let them know that I wanted them to vote for the amendment and to vote for anything that would increase privacy.
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Rikuo (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 1:19pm

Re:
That is actually a very good point. It doesn't seem to matter at all these days what laws get passed, if the US government wants something, they'll violate their own laws to do it.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Aug 2012 @ 2:10pm

Re: Re:
All the more reason for me to start looking for another country to move to...

Also, where's the cat signal techdirt?
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The Groove Tiger (profile), 1 Aug 2012 @ 2:35pm

Re:
C.A.T.S. SIGNAL TURN ON
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Michael, 1 Aug 2012 @ 4:43pm

Re:
"Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that a government agency, like the NSA or FBI, will get a hold of that information and use it to build a list of people they need to keep an eye on."

Yes, obviously, and since the NSA is actively spying on Americans anyway, all this bill would really do is give them legal impunity for stepping on our rights.

Here's the $64,000 question: what does the government stand to gain by spying on American citizens? What, did the government wake up one day and decide that we're the enemy? What are they going to use all this information for?
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Aug 2012 @ 2:39am

Re: Feedback Fail
I am guessing slightly overloaded, having sites like Techdirt line up the children to spam bomb them.

It's why things like this aren't effective, because even ignorant senators can tell it's just someone spam bomb.
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Ninja (profile), 2 Aug 2012 @ 3:51am

Re:
I believe that snooping regular citizens will probably inflict serious mental damage in the employees in charge of checking all the data. Tranny p0rn is actually quite soft. I invite you to board the disturbing and fertile world of Japanese p0rn. I've had my share of mental damage (many that were completely unexpected) already =D

I do think it hasn't affected my ability to live in society and make coherent and well based comments. Yet.

If there's supply there's demand so I will infer that there are all sorts of weirdos with even weirder tastes out there. And stop looking me as if I'm a freak. /lol
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Ninja (profile), 2 Aug 2012 @ 3:53am

Re: Re:
That.
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