Support NeoGAF

[Kthulhu]

Congress had six months to debate granting President-elect Donald Trump’s FBI new legal powers to hack millions of computers, and Republican leaders objected to doing so on Wednesday.

That means that starting Thursday, a Department of Justice official will be able to go to a single judge, assert that a computer crime may involve millions of networked devices, and get a warrant that lets the FBI hack all of those devices.

That's the meat and potatoes of it, but it gets even better.

According to three senators who tried to put the brakes on that new authority Wednesday so Congress could at least discuss it, there are no concrete assurances from law enforcement officials that privacy won’t be violated or that devices won’t be damaged. Nor was there any explanation of how authorities will hack Americans’ wired equipment.

“At midnight tonight, this Senate will make one of the biggest mistakes in surveillance policy in years and years,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who tried with Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to offer three measures to delay or rein in the new FBI powers. “Without a single congressional hearing, without a shred of meaningful public input, without any opportunity for senators to ask their questions in a public forum, one judge with one warrant would be able to authorize the hacking of thousands, possibly
millions of devices, cell phones and tablets.”

One of the Senators says the following

Wyden predicted that when something inevitably goes wrong, the anger will be aimed a lawmakers who couldn’t be bothered to add checks on the new powers.

“I think when Americans find out that the Congress allowed the Justice Department to just wave its arms in the air and grant itself new powers under the Fourth Amendment without the Senate even being part of a single hearing, I think law-abiding Americans are going to ask, ‘So what were you people in the Senate thinking?’” Wyden said. “What were you thinking about when the FBI starts hacking the victims of a hack, or when a mass hack goes awry and breaks their device, or an entire hospital system in effect has great damage done?”

And here is one of the most terrifying parts:

And Wyden argued that Trump does not have a strong record advocating for citizens’ protection from government intrusion.

“I was concerned about this before the election, but we know now that the
administration ― it’s a new administration that will be led by the individual who said he wanted the power to hack his political opponents the same way Russia does,” Wyden said.

So thank you Democrats. Thank you for not standing up for the rights of citizens, and blatantly doing everything in your power to erode the 4th amendment.

And thank you people who defended government spying, and told us it was all for the greater good, and supported this mentality. This is on people like you.

Edit: This probably would've happend regardless who won, but now that a madman runs the country, I'd LOVE to see someone continue to defend this shit.

Edit 2: In my anger I forgot to link the source. My bad

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fbi-hacking-congress_us_583f03dae4b04fcaa4d619fc

 

[NaughtyCalibur]

Holy shit this is becoming a fucking horror film.

 

[VendettaRed07]

Help us Rand Paul

 

[Surface of Me]

It truly is a brave new world.

 

[Einhander]

But what have you got to hide!

/s

 

[Kthulhu]

Help us Rand Paul

Him and Sanders were the ONLY candidates that I saw argue against government spying. Everyone else doesn't give a shit.

 

[Knuckle Sandwich]

Where's my kerosene and matches at? I need a new computer anyway.

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

On the bright side, people who were waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 now get to live the beta in real life!

 

[Kthulhu]

On the bright side, people who were waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 now get to live the beta in real life!

I loved Watch Dogs 2, but not this much.

 

[mreddie]

And ctOS is becoming a reality.

 

[NaughtyCalibur]

On the bright side, people who were waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 now get to live the beta in real life!

More like CTOS

Edit: ^there we go

 

[chrisPjelly]

Pre Donald Trump right wing person:
"BIG BROTHER Obama and his crony BIG GOVERNMENT is keeping tabs on all of you. Prepare your weapons, cause this is gonna be WAR "

Post Donald Trump right wing person:
"Trump is going to rid this nation of Muslims, so why are you acting like a pussy about them seeing your history? Are you a pedophile or something? Quit whining."

 

[Kthulhu]

Pre Donald Trump right wing person:
"BIG BROTHER Obama and his crony BIG GOVERNMENT is keeping tabs on all of you. Prepare your weapons, cause this is gonna be WAR "

Post Donald Trump right wing person:
"Trump is going to rid this nation of Muslims, so why are you acting like a pussy about them seeing your history? Are you a pedophile or something? Quit whining."

I'm betting on Dems who defended this shit in the past to have a similar change of heart.

 

[KingBroly]

That first blurb seems... really impractical to me. Like, is the FBI really going to go out and try to hack millions of devices for one crime?

 

[Admiral Woofington]

The future

x100000000

 

[Kthulhu]

That first blurb seems... really impractical to me. Like, is the FBI really going to go out and try to hack millions of devices for one crime?

We live in a world where the NSA is spying on pretty much everyone on the planet. How the fuck is this unbelievable to you?

Edit: also it is impractical. The spying agencies don't care.

 

[KingBroly]

We live in a world where the NSA is spying on pretty much everyone on the planet. How the fuck is this unbelievable to you?

I have a different picture in my head about what this entails I guess. Personally, I think if you have the NSA already doing this shit anyway, why does the FBI need it? It just feels like a waste of resources/power to me.

 

[Darryl M R]

Watch Dogs 3 in DC!

 

[Regulus Tera]

That first blurb seems... really impractical to me. Like, is the FBI really going to go out and try to hack millions of devices for one crime?

Have you been following NSA news these past few years?

And even if it were not practical, it is outrageous that it is even possible. The 4th Amendment is being made irrelevant in the cybernetic world.

 

[Elfforkusu]

I have a different picture in my head about what this entails I guess. Personally, I think if you have the NSA already doing this shit anyway, why does the FBI need it? It just feels like a waste of resources/power to me.

NSA does it on foreign soil, FBI operates domestically.

 

[Kthulhu]

I have a different picture in my head about what this entails I guess. Personally, I think if you have the NSA already doing this shit anyway, why does the FBI need it? It just feels like a waste of resources/power to me.

Again, it IS a waste. These techniques don't work. The agencies don't care, they want as much info as possible.

NSA does it on foreign soil, FBI operates domestically.

NSA does it domestically as well.

 

[CadetMahoney]

Smells similar to what the UK is going through.

*inhales*

 

[Beer Monkey]

The same FBI that violated the Hatch Act and tampered with the election.

 

[Kthulhu]

Smells similar to what the UK is going through.

*inhales*

We know from the Snowden leaks that GCHQ and the NSA have been working together.

 

[shira]

Dat cyber

 

[KingBroly]

Again, it IS a waste. These techniques don't work. The agencies don't care, they want as much info as possible.

I understand they want the power. It just strikes me as a bit paranoid of them to want to step on each other's toes like that. Then again, I'm sure if you work there, it's a job requirement to be paranoid.

 

[mr jones]

Him and Sanders were the ONLY candidates that I saw argue against government spying. Everyone else doesn't give a shit.

One of the few things that I'm still pissy at Bams about. C'mon, you had 8 years, yo. You REALLY don't want to get rid of the Patriot Act? You're down with spying on americans?

Ah well. I'm told that this new guy is going to make America great again. I shouldn't worry.

 

[AlphaDump]

Why would the OP attack democrats when they voted for the other person?

 

[Kthulhu]

I understand they want the power. It just strikes me as a bit paranoid of them to want to step on each other's toes like that. Then again, I'm sure if you work there, it's a job requirement to be paranoid.

They aren't stepping on each others toes. They share data all the time. The NSA has given data to the DEA.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Can't wait till mysteriously Wikileaks gets info on all sorts of Democrat computers and emails during the campaign season

 

[Kthulhu]

Why would the OP attack democrats when they voted for the other person?

I voted for Hillary during the election and Sanders during the primary. Also I don't recall saying I supported Trump or the GOP.

Edit: In fact, I've only voted for the GOP when they've run unopposed.

 

[UrokeJoe]

Thats it, no more fetishes from last week, I'll never go back again.

 

[M0nochromatic]

What are the real consequnces we're facing here? Should I go download all my porn now?

 

[GravityInsanity]

The future

x100000000

Haha where is this from?

 

[Kthulhu]

Haha where is this from?

Mega64's Deus Ex Tribute.

 

[Deleted member 80556]

So thank you Democrats. Thank you for not standing up for the rights of citizens, and blatantly doing everything in your power to erode the 4th amendment.

Thank Obama. Literally. There were Democrats who fought tooth and nails for keeping agencies like the CIA in check, like the release of the torture report. The Obama administration actively fought against said efforts and constantly undermined them.

Obama's legacy on the intelligence community is absolute trash. Pure shit. And I don't want to imagine how a Trump administration will fare.

EDIT: I literally made a thread that only got like 5 replies about how the Obama administration allowed the CIA to spy on the fucking Senate. Nobody fucking cares, not even people who read about this stuff like GAF. You had this coming a long time ago. You, the American people deserve this for not having your leaders accountable and voting for people who will erode your rights for a false sense of security.

EDIT 2: I just realized, you're in for a Nixon espionage drama period yet again, all your social movements constantly undermined by agencies paid with your own money to keep the status quo. I guess if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid /s

 

[Kayhan]

Thanks, Obama.

 

[Jawbreaker]

Someone summon Rand Paul.

 

[Havel]

UK>Brexit
US>Trump
UK>Snooper's Charter
US>This
UK>?

 

[Rebel Leader]

UK>Brexit
US>Trump
UK>Snooper's Charter
US>This
UK>?

Us> try to1up us one more time. I dare you!

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

This is what happens when you put the common man in the White House.

He's not doing any of this maliciously.

He just seriously thinks this is how you run a country.

 

[Rebel Leader]

This is ridiculous.

Can anyone stop this?

 

[Josh5890]

This is what happens when you put the common man in the White House.

He's not doing any of this maliciously.

He just seriously thinks this is how you run a country.

Trump hasn't done a single thing yet. He has no power until January 20th.

 

[bennywhatever]

Are there any reputable news organizations reporting on this? Huffington Post is down there with Buzzfeed on the reliability scale.

 

[Kthulhu]

This is ridiculous.

Can anyone stop this?

In the article it says this:

Congress could still write legislation to address the new surveillance and hacking powers. But starting in January, the GOP-led Congress would in effect be challenging its own party’s president.

So yes, but no one will actually do anything. Most Congress People want this. Anyone who could stop it that wanted to has already tried.

Edit: Hell most americans want this. The media sure as hell hasn't done it's job and informed people on why this is BS.

UK>Brexit
US>Trump
UK>Snooper's Charter
US>This
UK>?

V for Vendetta.

Are there any reputable news organizations reporting on this? Huffington Post is down there with Buzzfeed on the reliability scale.

When Buzzfeed isn't putting out clickbait they actually do really good journalism, and Huff Post is usually pretty reliable.

The Electronic Fromtier Foundation posted this. It was also linked by Huffington Post as one of their sources.

 

[squidyj]

UK>Brexit
US>Trump
UK>Snooper's Charter
US>This
UK>?

*Canadian Anxiety Intensifies*

 

[Kthulhu]

*Canadian Anxiety Intensifies*

Canada's intelligence agencies have also worked with the NSA in the past.

 

[Monocle]

It's fine. It's fine! It's fine.

It's all completely fine.

Are there any reputable news organizations reporting on this? Huffington Post is down there with Buzzfeed on the reliability scale.

Nobody wants to hear from the librul media.

 

[Lagamorph]

Wow, America really is trying to one up every shitty decision the UK makes.

 

[Marky Mark]

V for Vendetta.

UK>V for Vendetta
US>Z for Zorro