This isn’t strictly speaking a business comment, unless your business gets blown up by a terrorist, as happened in the Charlie Hebdo bombings.<\/p>\n
However, the increased NSA\u00a0surveillance practices that were passed in the aftermath of 2001` are coming up for reauthorization by Congress, presumably the House, in late May.<\/p>\n
Now, I have some expertise in the field, having led a team that designed some of the first data-mining techniques. And I participated in some expansions of it. And kept an eye on it professionally for about 20 years, and continue to do so.<\/p>\n
What is at issue is the ‘bulk’ collection of telephone records by NSA, before it has the permission of the Foreign Intelligence Court. Normally, NSA gets a probable cause warrant from the FISC before it requests big bunches of data from the telcos, or others.<\/p>\n
The same procedure applies to domestic surveillance, of the type that was used to locate the two combers homing in on Pam Geller in Garland Texas, If anything, these two worthies should have been detained and interrogated a little earlier, before they descended on Ms Geller’s convention. However, since they’re dead, no useful intelligence can be gleaned about who their associates are, although it might be known through datamining.<\/p>\n
I know that the ACLU is and has been up in arms about these surveillance practices, but I have seen no real abuses, and I watch these things closely.<\/p>\n
I would propose that Congress reauthorize the surveillance, both domestic and foreign, because it’s in the national interest. We will have to trust NSA that they do it right and don’t for example, arrest someone because they head a conservative charity. It seems to be that they’ve earned our trust.<\/p>\n
I would also insert some advanced AI procedures into the software, to anticipate where suspected terrorists might be likely to go, so they can be stopped an interrogated by local police, the French. the Brits, or whoever is potentially impacted. Cut the FBI into the loop in all cases….they’re a little stretched, but they seem to be getting the job done. They knew about both the Garland shooters before it happened, but didn’t interrogate them. Local police departments should be the primary contact, as they were in Garland. They’re more numerous than the FBIs, and generally do their jobs quite well.<\/p>\n
So, there you have it Congress. And, you readers out there, you have my permission to forward this blog to your Federal Congressmen and women.<\/p>\n
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This isn’t strictly speaking a business comment, unless your business gets blown up by a terrorist, as happened in the Charlie Hebdo bombings. However, the increased NSA\u00a0surveillance practices that were passed in the aftermath of 2001` are coming up for … Continue reading