Big Brother is listening!
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
October 30, 2011 12:25pm CST
We all are used to the idea that we are monitored by traffic cameras, video surveillance at banks and ATM machines, in stores etc. but we don't always remember it. Here is an article talking about the government/president able to intercept our phone calls, text messages and faxes. The writer of the article is retired from the broadcast business.
"The Echelon Network | The Five Eyes
This is a combined project referred to as “Echelon” (or The Echelon Network - sometimes called “The Five Eyes.”) involving the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, with listening posts that span the globe. Every phone call, e-mail, text message, wire, fax, instant message, computer, and even satellite phone calls is/are intercepted 24-hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. Listening posts are located in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Cyprus, Hungary, Pakistan, India, Oman, Kenya, and, yes, in Israel. And - there may well be others, and there probably are."
Remember the riots last year? and when the government shut off their people's access to Facebook? Big brother is truly here. Sounds kind of creepy.
http://www.rightsidenews.com/2011102814831/editorial/us-opinion-and-editorial/big-brother-is-listening-to-phone-calls-and-reading-text-messages.html?utm_source=Right+Side+News&utm_campaign=105aa60a7e-daily-rss-newsletter&utm_medium=email
1 person likes this
11 responses
@samafayla33 (1856)
• United States
31 Oct 11
Sometimes, we forget that we are only human and we all make mistakes but we do have laws that we have to follow, I don't like it, but if it keeps our children safe, i'm up for it.
@samafayla33 (1856)
• United States
31 Oct 11
yeah that's just me, if my security and young people's security is at risk, i wouldn't want anything to happen to them.
@BarBaraPrz (47314)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
30 Oct 11
This isn't really new.
In the late 60s, we had a saying:
Nobody listening 'cept you and me and the RCMP.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
2 Nov 11
I graduated from high school in 1968 but don't know what RCMP is.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47314)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Nov 11
Royal Canadian Mounted Police... the Mounties, our national police.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
31 Oct 11
I am not surprised. When cell phones first hit the market in their most primitive form my now-ex husband (electronics wizard supreme) told me the gov't now had the technology to snoop on conversations and I should never discuss anything sensitive over any telephone. He was not and isn't paranoid or a conspiracy nut but knows his stuff and what is possible and what is not.
Why would anyone be surprised that the gov't can listen in? They already have their filthy fingers in every aspect of our lives and most people let them in willingly.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
2 Nov 11
Naturally the government is watching and spying on us. I mean what else would they do. Actually doing their job and running the country properly. I mean, come on now, that's a ridiculous notion. Government leaders actually doing a good enough job. Granted, they are going to have a lot of justification to an extent, but where do you draw the line? Of course, if you believe half of the conspiracy theories out there, the government in the United States and other countries have been hopping over each line for many years.
So yeah, they're always watching. They could be peering right in your window, watching you type, right now. You just never know what is going to happen. There are eyes, there are ears in every single place. It is rather scary to say the least but really, you shouldn't rather be surprised by the fact that there are people. There are always those who are watching. Each and every area. You never know who could pop up. They're out there.
@Vrilya (128)
•
31 Oct 11
If everyone fills their emails up with fake encrypted text like this
hjhkjh aasjhasd iqwuiqwe ksjdlsajla ueiwurowe lskjdasdj lksjdlsak
owiueoqwi ksjdlsajdlsa asdlkasldaj lkasjdalksjd lksjdlaksdj lksjdla
kasjlaksj klasjdalkdj ksajdlaksdj kasjdlasdj
you'll overload the systems, as all their computers will be trying to decrypt a load of fake code.....
;-)
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
31 Oct 11
Hello. If it is a security surveillance system due to increased terror threats around the globe, we really shouldn't bother. In fact, with the best of intelligence, many countries in the world have not been able to gather advance information regarding planned terror strikes. Given the undeniable fact that terror strikes are mindless acts of violence, which mainly causes harm to innocent and quite often poor civilians, any aids that sovereign governments deploy should be considered fine. I am not getting into the causes, the rights & wrongs of those who inflict violence but what is sad is that ordinary lives are lost and under gory circumstances.
As long as we can be reasonably sure that none of it is gonna affect lesser mortals like you & me, we may stay blissfully ignorant!! Except for the fact that those guys who find it exciting to be able to read, hear [and see?] all private & individual conversations may peep into anything at will! :O
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
30 Oct 11
It is scary. I don't think they have enough time to go through everyones business, but I also am afraid that they will come back on you if they don't like your opinions. I know we are supposed to be able to have freedom of speech, but that only seems to go so far.
@GardenGerty (160677)
• United States
30 Oct 11
This is why I try to remember that nothing is secret on the internet, and that I do not want to put anything in writing that may make me look bad later.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
31 Oct 11
Australia has always had secret technology that supports the US. Many
aussies are ignorant of this, but I became awre of it as far back as the 80's. the project you refer to in your article is not known to me, but I bet our Government has been supporting it isnce it's first inception.
Fortunately the big brother thing has not influence our live much, if at all.I am not sayng that I support this invasive form of technology, just that
australia has used it or supported the US using it for a very long time.
@sreekutty (1051)
• India
30 Oct 11
OMG , that sure is bad in bold. I hate to think of someone reading my private mail and other things like phone calls etc; like everybody else. What can we do about this. we are not criminals , well law is law i guess and who knows an innocent might not turn to be so, the govt I suppose has to be vigilant.
@kaeirole (668)
• Philippines
31 Oct 11
that is violating people's privacy..no one would want their personal communication be intercepted by the government..government has no right for it..even if their reason is to protect the country from terrorists..not everybody living in those places are terrorists..
