To the Point
Is Electronic Surveillance Out of Control?
A secret court has vastly broadened the power of the National Security Agency to spy on Americans if it wants to. How did that happen? Is it making us safer?
By Warren Olney • • 51m ListenEdward Snowden may be a fugitive from justice, but he was right about one thing: a secret court has vastly broadened the power of the National Security Agency to spy on Americans if it wants to. How did that happen? Is it making us safer? Also, the Egyptian military orders the arrest of Islamist leaders, and President Obama wants federal workers to spy on each other.
Banner imge: NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, from a screenshot of the film Prism by Praxis Films. Photo: Laura Poitras/Praxis Films
In this episode
3 storiesEgyptian Military Orders Islamist Leaders Arrested
Formal warrants have now been issued for the spiritual head of the Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and nine other leaders accused of inciting deadly protests in the aftermath of President Morsi's overthrow. And the military-led government is being promised $12 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and now from Kuwait.
Read the story8 minIs Electronic Surveillance Out of Control?
When Edward Snowden revealed that Americans' phone calls and emails were being sucked up by government computers, the President called for a "national conversation." Yesterday, a former judge told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board he was " frankly stunned " at what's now allowed by the secret court he once served on.
Read the story36 minWhite House Tries to Preempt Leaks with Insider Threat Program
Two years ago, after PFC. Bradley Manning's massive classified document dump, President Obama mandated what's called the Insider Threat Program . Millions of federal workers are required to report any suspicious activities on the part of their colleagues. They face criminal penalties if they don't.
Read the story7 min
