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When Spies and Crime-Fighters Squabble Over How They Spy On You 120

The Washington Post reports in a short article on the sometimes strange, sometimes strained relationship between spy agencies like the NSA and CIA and law enforcement (as well as judges and prosecutors) when it comes to evidence gathered using technology or techniques that the spy agencies would rather not disclose at all, never mind explain in detail. They may both be arms of the U.S. government, but the spy agencies and the law enforcers covet different outcomes. From the article: [S]sometimes it's not just the tool that is classified, but the existence itself of the capability — the idea that a certain type of communication can be wiretapped — that is secret. One former senior federal prosecutor said he knew of at least two instances where surveillance tools that the FBI criminal investigators wanted to use "got formally classified in a big hurry" to forestall the risk that the technique would be revealed in a criminal trial. "People on the national security side got incredibly wound up about it," said the former official, who like others interviewed on the issue spoke on condition of anonymity because of the topic’s sensitivity. "The bottom line is: Toys get taken away and put on a very, very high shelf. Only people in the intelligence community can use them." ... The DEA in particular was concerned that if it came up with a capability, the National Security Agency or CIA would rush to classify it, said a former Justice Department official.

Comment Re:Customer service? (Score 1) 928

People can only be treated as helpless subjects of the powers that be for so long before they internalize the attitude

Maybe for you; I reject the idea.

When installing software and are 'forced' to 'agree' to many paragraphs of legalese before the OK button will become clickable, do you tick "I agree" and think "I agree" or do you tick it whilst thinking "I'm only clicking 'I agree' because I've discovered that that's what's necessary to proceed to the next installation-step?"

Comment Re:Customer service? (Score 1) 928

That's the thing (well, firstly it was a threat to involve the police but, assuming it was 'security' that were to be called...) why is it that 'security' in this context is almost always used ironically?

In almost every case, no security is being provided - merely threat of violence, removal of personal freedom, demonstration of poor reasoning, interpersonal skills...

Why have a large proportion of people in the customer-role been conditioned to use this word?

If the customer had been violent and a threat to others, perhaps 'security' had the opportunity to provider security to other passengers - in this case, I think not.

Let's call them what they are; poorly-paid thugs, present to enforce the will of their employer. Or would that be unkind?

Comment Re:Customer service? (Score 2) 928

Nevertheless, she was using powers granted by the company to enforce her will; from the customer's perspective, SWA was acting to prevent his family-subset from flying.

If she's had said... "unless you delete that tweet, I will not speak to you during the flight" that would have carried less weight and might have been interpreted as personal.

Comment Re:What?!? (Score 4, Insightful) 928

Have the police now become nothing more than an enforcement organization? Will they attend and enforce the will of whoever calls them first? Does it need to be a business? Is there a membership fee?

Isn't there any remnant of the idea that they are there to enforce....*the law* ? If so, what was the crime which required a their presence?

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