Even today, it is widely acceptable for the United States government to listen in on phone calls between U.S. citizens and foreign countries. In fact, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act passed in 1978 states that a warrant issued from a special court is required to wiretap a phone call only if the call is being made or received by an American. Meaning, any foreign person calling any foreign country is completely free to be heard by our government.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, intelligence agencies began to operate much more aggressively. In response, the National Security Agency began using a tactic that intercepts large amounts of electronic communications by Americans and stores this as data. This method first got intelligence agencies in trouble over thirty years ago when signs of abuse were first discovered.
This raises question upon if our freedom is being violated due to the government storing small bits of information from random conversations of American citizens. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the program is currently being questioned. “The vast majority of what we did with the intelligence was ill-focussed and not productive,” a Pentagon consultant said. Should the government be able to track phone calls between suspect foreign numbers, even if sufficient evidence is lacking? Is this expensive program even worth continuing with little success in the past?
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Well with little success in the past, I think that the government shouldn't put as much money and effort into it. Even though this is an invasion of privacy, I don't think they should fully stop the program because a time may come when it would be very helpful.
ReplyDeleteAs an American citizen i have no problem with the government listening to my phone calls. I have nothing to hide and i say nothing that would make them suspicious. Is there really any reason to be upset with this? They are listening to our phone calls for our personal protection. If their "invasion" of our privacy will prevent just one terrorist attack is it not worth it? If you have no reason for the government to be suspicious of you then they won't be. Foreigners who come to this country and are not citizens shouldn't be offended that they are under surveillance. If the government wants to question their motives for being here, they have a right to. Foreigners are not citizens and don't necessarily have the same right to privacy as an American citizen.
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