The cache of documents revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden disclosed that the U.S. used surveillance methods to monitor the emails and phone calls of its closest foreign allies including Germany, France and Brazil. The revelations have severely damaged the U.S.'s relationship with these countries even though State Department officials have insisted that these surveillance programs have thwarted many terrorist threats worldwide.
53% Yes |
47% No |
44% Yes |
34% No |
9% Yes, surveillance of all foreign countries is essential to tracking potential terrorist threats |
11% No, spying on our allies severely damages our reputation abroad |
2% No, and abolish the NSA |
See how support for each position on “NSA Surveillance” has changed over time for 4.8m America voters.
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See how importance of “NSA Surveillance” has changed over time for 4.8m America voters.
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Unique answers from America users whose views extended beyond the provided choices.
@8T7CGV93yrs3Y
Yes surveillance all countries
@8JCJLWV4yrs4Y
Probably yes -- all nations do this, yes?
@chickentaco3yrs3Y
Yes, but only with the permission of the ally in question so long as they can do the same with us, and only target individuals or organizations with suspected ties to terrorists/subversive movements.
@8T9C8C63yrs3Y
Yes and surveillance all countries
@9D8GBQR8mos8MO
Yes, surveillance of all foreign countries is essential to tracking potential terrorist threats and increase surveillance on drug traffickers and on sex and slave traffickers
@9GN5KWP6mos6MO
Yes, as long as they can do the same to us and a warrant is acquired that proves the surveilled target’s link to criminal or terrorist interests
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@ISIDEWITH1 day1D
The US government had wanted a backdoor to Telegram in order to potentially spy on its users, the social media platform’s founder Pavel Durov said in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson. The attention from the FBI was one of the reasons Durov dropped the idea of setting up the company in San Francisco, he said. Born in St Petersburg, Durov first founded VK, Russia’s answer to Facebook, together with his mathematician brother Nikolay. The brothers later developed the Telegram messaging service and social media platform, which describes itself as one of the safest and well-protected communication tools.urov sold his stake in VK and left Russia in 2014 due to disagreements with the government. He lived in several countries while looking for the best place to run Telegram from, and ultimately settled in Dubai. In an interview published on Wednesday, Durov said that he visited the US several times and even met with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. He was under the watchful eye of the FBI, which made his stays in America uneasy, he said. “We got too much attention from the FBI, the security agencies, wherever we came,” Durov told Carlson, describing the experience as “alarming.” According to Durov, one of his top employees once told him that he had been approached by the US government. “There was a secret attempt to hire my engineer behind my back by cybersecurity officers,” the businessman said.“They were trying to persuade him to use certain open-source tools that he would then integrate into Telegram’s code that, in my understanding, would serve as backdoors,” Durov said. He added that he believes the employee’s account. “There is no reason for my engineer to make up (such) stories.”Durov went on to say that he also had “personally experienced similar pressure” in America, where law enforcement officials approached him on multiple occasions.
@ZealousS3nate5 days5D
From the FISA bill that passed today.’‘The FBI shall promptly notify appropriate congressional leadership of any query conducted by the FBI using a query term that is the name of a member of Congress.’
@ISIDEWITH6 days6D
The House passed legislation Friday to renew a controversial national-security spying power, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) made changes to the bill to overcome a last-minute intervention from former President Donald Trump and objections from hard-line conservatives.The bill extending the foreign surveillance program was approved 273-147, capping a bitter, yearlong fight in the chamber that had aligned some conservatives and progressives in seeking more privacy protections against congressional leadership and the Biden administration, which warned that deep changes to the law could put American lives in danger.An amendment vote to add a warrant requirement failed Friday in a nail biter of a vote, with 212 in favor and 212 against. That requirement was opposed by the Biden administration and security hawks who called it a poison pill. Senior Biden officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Attorney General Merrick Garland, placed calls Friday morning to House members urging them to vote down the warrant amendment, according to people familiar with the matter.
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@ISIDEWITH3wks3W
In a series of developments that have stirred the political landscape, former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed the presidential bid of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., describing it as 'great for MAGA.' Trump's remarks came after Kennedy announced his vice-presidential pick, further intensifying the political discourse. Trump, in his characteristic style, took to social media to express his views, labeling Kennedy as the 'most radical left' candidate in the race and highlighting the liberal credentials of Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan. Despite his criticism of their political stance, Trump views Kennedy's candidacy as beneficial for his MAGA movement, suggesting it could potentially divide the Democratic vote.Kennedy, a figure who has long been associated with controversial views, particularly on the rule of law and established science, has drawn criticism and concern from various quarters. His decision to run for president and the subsequent endorsement by Trump has sparked a flurry of reactions, with some seeing it as a strategic move that could impact the Democratic Party's chances in the upcoming elections. Allies of President Joe Biden have expressed alarm over Kennedy's bid, fearing it could siphon off crucial votes from the left, thereby posing a significant threat to Biden's reelection efforts.The political dynamics surrounding Kennedy's candidacy and Trump's endorsement underscore the complex and often unpredictable nature of American politics. As the race for the presidency heats up, the strategies employed by candidates and their supporters are coming under increased scrutiny. The potential impact of Kennedy's run on the Democratic vote is a topic of much speculation, with analysts and political observers closely monitoring the situation.Trump's support for Kennedy, despite their ideological differences, highlights the former president's tactical approach to politics. By endorsing a candidate who could potentially weaken his opponents, Trump is playing a strategic game, aiming to maximize his own chances of success. This move has not only added a new dimension to the political landscape but has also raised questions about the future direction of both the Republican and Democratic parties.As the United States gears up for another presidential election, the emergence of candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the reactions they provoke from figures like Donald Trump are indicative of the shifting sands of American politics. With the electorate increasingly polarized, the outcome of the election remains uncertain, and the strategies adopted by candidates will be crucial in determining the path forward.
@ISIDEWITH6mos6MO
Proponents argue that this strategy would bolster national security by minimizing the risk of potential terrorists entering the country. Enhanced screening processes, once implemented, would provide a more thorough assessment of applicants, reducing the likelihood of malicious actors gaining entry.…
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
Absentee-by-mail ballots are paper ballots that are mailed to voters who must then fill them out and return them, often with the voter's signature and sometimes a witness signature to prove the voter's identity. In 35 states and Washington, D.C., any qualified voter may vote absentee-by-mail without…