Comments on: Civil liberties advocates question government-spying bill http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill News. Politics. Media. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:22:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Colin Lee http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27744 Colin Lee Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:58:37 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27744 The next time there's a hearing on this, be sure to invite Bruce Schneier. He's one of the top computer security experts in the country, lives locally, and is very outspoken on the topic of data mining. The man personally wrote one of the top three finalist entries intended to become the new Advanced Encrypion Standard. Basically, his argument boils down to one of the oldest and most-proven concepts in the computer world, "Garbage in, garbage out." If you can't trust the veracity of the data going into a database, then you can trust the data mining output even less. Allowing ridiculous rumors produced by paid informants into a data mining system will only produce a new class of innocent outlaws to be investigated over more credible threats. Here's one of many articles he's written on the topic: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/03/data_mining_for.html The next time there’s a hearing on this, be sure to invite Bruce Schneier. He’s one of the top computer security experts in the country, lives locally, and is very outspoken on the topic of data mining. The man personally wrote one of the top three finalist entries intended to become the new Advanced Encrypion Standard. Basically, his argument boils down to one of the oldest and most-proven concepts in the computer world, “Garbage in, garbage out.” If you can’t trust the veracity of the data going into a database, then you can trust the data mining output even less. Allowing ridiculous rumors produced by paid informants into a data mining system will only produce a new class of innocent outlaws to be investigated over more credible threats.

Here’s one of many articles he’s written on the topic:
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/03/data_mining_for.html

]]> By: Ann Galloway http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27608 Ann Galloway Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:57:03 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27608 Mike McIntee of The Uptake and now on 950am from 5:00pm to 5:30pm weekdays, had this on his show for about 15 minutes. I wish he could have had a whole 1hour. He did a great interview and brought up some points I didn't even thing of. I hope he has more time next time to calls. Mike McIntee of The Uptake and now on 950am from 5:00pm to 5:30pm weekdays, had this on his show for about 15 minutes. I wish he could have had a whole 1hour. He did a great interview and brought up some points I didn’t even thing of. I hope he has more time next time to calls.

]]> By: John H Kennedy http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27581 John H Kennedy Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:03:25 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27581 Officials all across the country think they can get away with increased spying on citizens. Now that our Democrats have refused to impeach or prosecute Bush, Cheney or their spying, torturing lawyers, all other officials think they are entitled as well. The only way to stop this attitude is to make example of some of the Bush criminals. Unless Obama's statement that “no one is above the law” is a lie, Obama must appoint a Special Prosecutor Sign The Petition To Prosecute http://ANGRYVoters.org . Officials all across the country think they can get away with increased spying on citizens. Now that our Democrats have refused to impeach or prosecute Bush, Cheney or their spying, torturing lawyers, all other officials think they are entitled as well.

The only way to stop this attitude is to make example of some of the Bush criminals.

Unless Obama’s statement that “no one is above the law” is a lie,
Obama must appoint a Special Prosecutor

Sign The Petition To Prosecute

http://ANGRYVoters.org

.

]]> By: Dan Feidt http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27486 Dan Feidt Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:38:30 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27486 Some earlier info from Politics in Minnesota: http://tinyurl.com/sf1103 - check it out. I was able to get some angles on the fusion center and RNC aspects of this (and Paul Demko, thanks for covering this!!!) Some earlier info from Politics in Minnesota: http://tinyurl.com/sf1103 – check it out. I was able to get some angles on the fusion center and RNC aspects of this (and Paul Demko, thanks for covering this!!!)

]]> By: News Day: Lawyer-speak for loser / Ho-hum DFL / Backing off on spy bill / Around the world in 90 seconds / more « Mary Turck http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27465 News Day: Lawyer-speak for loser / Ho-hum DFL / Backing off on spy bill / Around the world in 90 seconds / more « Mary Turck Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:46:36 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27465 [...] Government spy bill on hold for now After encountering a storm of opposition, DFL Rep. John Lesch withdrew is bill on secret government spying from consideration. The Lesch bill, and a companion bill sponsored by Sen. Don Betzold, provide that intelligence data collected on individuals by law enforcement officers could be kept secret for a year, according to the Minnesota Independent. [...] [...] Government spy bill on hold for now After encountering a storm of opposition, DFL Rep. John Lesch withdrew is bill on secret government spying from consideration. The Lesch bill, and a companion bill sponsored by Sen. Don Betzold, provide that intelligence data collected on individuals by law enforcement officers could be kept secret for a year, according to the Minnesota Independent. [...]

]]> By: easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » easyVegan Link Sanctuary, 2009-03-22 http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27460 easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » easyVegan Link Sanctuary, 2009-03-22 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:34:55 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27460 [...] The Minnesota Independent: Civil liberties advocates question government-spying bill [...] [...] The Minnesota Independent: Civil liberties advocates question government-spying bill [...]

]]> By: Ann Galloway http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27392 Ann Galloway Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:44:34 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27392 Shame on these MN Representatives for trying to erode more of our Civil Liberties. I emailed my State Sen and my State Rep right away and told they why I urge them to oppose this bill. It is an embarassment to see it brought up in MN, especially with MN's history of civil rights. Because of the Patriot Act i have had info collected about me. What is my crime ? Being active in two different non-violent Peace groups. The 1st was in 2003 when I was with Peace Fresno in Fresno, CA; and then most recently in WAMM (Woman Against Military Madness) in which infor was gather for our group under the "Highway Watch". I joined Peace Fresno in 2002 because I had worked with Veterans who suffered from severe depression, and/or substance abuse due to the horrors of war. And because I chose to speak out, help organize others to speak out against our government's foreign policy and illegal action I was spied on, and my info was shared with others... this was done to 100's of us. I hope both the Representative and the Senator who brought this bill to committee both lose their seats in the next election. Shame on these MN Representatives for trying to erode more of our Civil Liberties.
I emailed my State Sen and my State Rep right away and told they why I urge them to oppose this bill. It is an embarassment to see it brought up in MN, especially with MN’s history of civil rights.

Because of the Patriot Act i have had info collected about me. What is my crime ? Being active in two different non-violent Peace groups.
The 1st was in 2003 when I was with Peace Fresno in Fresno, CA; and then most recently in WAMM (Woman Against Military Madness) in which infor was gather for our group under the “Highway Watch”. I joined Peace Fresno in 2002 because I had worked with Veterans who suffered from severe depression, and/or substance abuse due to the horrors of war. And because I chose to speak out, help organize others to speak out against our government’s foreign policy and illegal action I was spied on, and my info was shared with others… this was done to 100’s of us. I hope both the Representative and the Senator who brought this bill to committee both lose their seats in the next election.

]]> By: Coleen Rowley http://minnesotaindependent.com/29613/civil-liberties-advocates-question-government-spying-bill/comment-page-1#comment-27387 Coleen Rowley Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:42:34 +0000 http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=29613#comment-27387 Actually the bill allows data collected by law enforcement about Minnesotans to be shared with a "person" deemed to "protect the infrastructure". In all probability this refers to the FBI's "InfraGard" (comprised of corporations and business association members) program, the Homeland Security's "Highway Watch" (which includes the Highway Trucking Association) and other newly-formed and forming corporate-government information sharing programs. So if the Minnesota BCA's proposal was enacted in its unfettered current form, it could also result in blacklisting people--preventing persons who the information tarnishes from getting jobs due to the secret intelligence that these corporations would have on file about you. The key here is this has nothing to do with criminal investigative data. The Minnesota law already protects investigative data, informants and police sources. They are attempting to carve out new secrecy for data not contained in their investigations. The best statement I've ever seen on this topic--that such "intelligence" is not really intelligent--was serendipitously just made on March 18th by the ACLU's Caroline Frederickson to the House Homeland Security: http://fas.org/sgp/congress/2008/061108fredrickson.pdf (It's required reading for anyone who cares about the future of security, privacy and democracy in America.) Actually the bill allows data collected by law enforcement about Minnesotans to be shared with a “person” deemed to “protect the infrastructure”. In all probability this refers to the FBI’s “InfraGard” (comprised of corporations and business association members) program, the Homeland Security’s “Highway Watch” (which includes the Highway Trucking Association) and other newly-formed and forming corporate-government information sharing programs. So if the Minnesota BCA’s proposal was enacted in its unfettered current form, it could also result in blacklisting people–preventing persons who the information tarnishes from getting jobs due to the secret intelligence that these corporations would have on file about you. The key here is this has nothing to do with criminal investigative data. The Minnesota law already protects investigative data, informants and police sources.

They are attempting to carve out new secrecy for data not contained in their investigations.

The best statement I’ve ever seen on this topic–that such “intelligence” is not really intelligent–was serendipitously just made on March 18th by the ACLU’s Caroline Frederickson to the House Homeland Security: http://fas.org/sgp/congress/2008/061108fredrickson.pdf (It’s required reading for anyone who cares about the future of security, privacy and democracy in America.)

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