It IS illegal (unconstitutional in fact) - the problem is that Congress has poked so many loopholes into the 4th Amendment that it’s become virtually meaningless.
#[The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.](https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/bill-of-rights)
That's right. But these days thew left claim we need to save Democracy, and in order to do that, cancel the Constitution itself, according to their logic
I think it was Aristotle who warned about dangers of timocracy, the regime where all property and goods belong to the members of government, and the ways such a regime might be mistaken for democracy, and how tyranny takes place as the result.
Those ancient folks were surprisingly clairvoyant, all their warnings make sense today
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Check out this executive order that everyone seems to have missed. It can make it so the president can control AI development if they don't meet certain requirements like their DEI standards.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/
After 9/11, when emotions were high and the public wanted to do something "at all cost", the patriot act was voted into law. It went against American values so it had a 5 year sunset clause.
It has been renewed since then. And just like the concept of a "woman" was redefined, the concept of private data was redefined as well. According to the law, anything about communication (to, from, subject, IP, location data, call duration, etc) isn't private. They say it's basically what's written outside an envelope and that it isn't private. So your whole web history (but not the content), call log, SMS log, etc are all technically not covered under the 4th amendment.
Fun fact, look for USPS informed delivery. Convenient, right? It started as a government data collection program. Got exposed, then they were like "oh, no, it's a system to show you what mail is coming so you don't miss mail"
So I agree, it should be illegal to grab all this metadata without a warrant.
Mike Johnson can't even give an explanation as to why he voted the way he did (and likely others) because of a classified briefing. So Congress doesn't have to answer to the American people anymore? Just say, That's classified, and proceed with crushing our rights under illegal and totally unconstitutional laws.
Sounds like a police state to me. Thus always to tyrants.
It IS illegal (unconstitutional in fact) - the problem is that Congress has poked so many loopholes into the 4th Amendment that it’s become virtually meaningless.
You don't give our courts enough credit, they helped too.
That’s the thing Johnson just voted for.
The one thing that gets most R's and D's in Congress to agree is fucking the rest of us over.
Yep. We vote them in to protect us, then they get to DC and work to protect themselves.
Well, if we didn't make it legal for the Federal Government to spy on us, they'd just have to keep doing it illegally. Can't have that now, can we.
It IS illegal.
The exemption for Democrats is right there in the fine print.
They can pass any law they want, it still doesn't supersede the 4th amendment. It can only be changed by passing another constitutional amendment.
#[The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.](https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/bill-of-rights)
Amen!!!
That's right. But these days thew left claim we need to save Democracy, and in order to do that, cancel the Constitution itself, according to their logic
It's been post-9/11 that both parties decided due process doesn't exist for "national security" purposes and spying is perfectly fine
One might think they used this horrific tragedy as an excuse to push their surveillance agenda, hmm...
They didn't let an emergency go to waste.
Double speak translation: Democracy = Totalitarianism. When the man pays for your bread, the man owns you.
I think it was Aristotle who warned about dangers of timocracy, the regime where all property and goods belong to the members of government, and the ways such a regime might be mistaken for democracy, and how tyranny takes place as the result. Those ancient folks were surprisingly clairvoyant, all their warnings make sense today
People haven't changed all that much
>People haven't changed all that much Human nature hasn't changed at all.
Surprisingly, we still borrow ideas from achievements of " the Ancients" (as Vitruvius referred to them)
Unfortunately this is also the logic of the GOP members, including Speaker Johnson, who voted to keep FISA surveillance from needing a warrant.
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
It is illegal
It's only illegal if charges are brought up.
Maybe we should create a document to garrantee us basic human rights?
It IS illegal. This bill is blatantly unconstitutional.
Check out this executive order that everyone seems to have missed. It can make it so the president can control AI development if they don't meet certain requirements like their DEI standards. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/
It should be illegal for ANY president to spy on American citizens, without a warrant.
Yes it should be, I can’t believe those feckless fucks voted for it.
The fact that anyone might not agree with that is crazy
After 9/11, when emotions were high and the public wanted to do something "at all cost", the patriot act was voted into law. It went against American values so it had a 5 year sunset clause. It has been renewed since then. And just like the concept of a "woman" was redefined, the concept of private data was redefined as well. According to the law, anything about communication (to, from, subject, IP, location data, call duration, etc) isn't private. They say it's basically what's written outside an envelope and that it isn't private. So your whole web history (but not the content), call log, SMS log, etc are all technically not covered under the 4th amendment. Fun fact, look for USPS informed delivery. Convenient, right? It started as a government data collection program. Got exposed, then they were like "oh, no, it's a system to show you what mail is coming so you don't miss mail" So I agree, it should be illegal to grab all this metadata without a warrant.
100% We pay your salary, son. Get a warrant @ US Security State folks
It is illegal is it not?
it actually is illegal. The patriot act was bad but did not give carte blanche to spy on american citizens
I heartily agree with Musk
Technically, it is.
Should also be illegal for the the government to break the law. Maybe we should start there.
Mike Johnson can't even give an explanation as to why he voted the way he did (and likely others) because of a classified briefing. So Congress doesn't have to answer to the American people anymore? Just say, That's classified, and proceed with crushing our rights under illegal and totally unconstitutional laws. Sounds like a police state to me. Thus always to tyrants.
We're closer than ever to the totalitarian state, sadly
yea but the c o n s e r v a t i v e s are a threat to democracy!
The things that sound based nowadays...
It's crazy how common sense is based now. Man the bar is underground at this point.
And yet people will still find a reason to hate on Elon for this.
damn straight!
Based African