They basically were admitting "we don't have the grounds for a search warrant, so we'll just use the border search exemption". Very sleazy tactic.
I just don't see what can be done. They're not going to disband the NSA, they're not going to disband the FISC. Part of the problem is that the laws that created the NSA give Congress very little oversight, so it's easy for them to be wielded for less than legal activities. They've talked about adding a so-called advocate to FISC so that at least one person would be able to argue against the government when they want something, but because of the classified information that advocate would be probably a Justice Dept. employee and the presentations and deliberations would still be secret.
We've received an object lesson that those who gain power will fight tooth and nail to keep it.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2013-09-12 04:57 pm (UTC)I just don't see what can be done. They're not going to disband the NSA, they're not going to disband the FISC. Part of the problem is that the laws that created the NSA give Congress very little oversight, so it's easy for them to be wielded for less than legal activities. They've talked about adding a so-called advocate to FISC so that at least one person would be able to argue against the government when they want something, but because of the classified information that advocate would be probably a Justice Dept. employee and the presentations and deliberations would still be secret.
We've received an object lesson that those who gain power will fight tooth and nail to keep it.