US super-strong spy satellites soon to be turned on American citizens
Law enforcement officials, from the FBI down to the local sheriff, will be able to use military satellites to spy on American citizens. We’re supposed to trust that they won’t abuse that power.
Amygdala wrote quite lot about this. It’s very scary.
Fortunately, this system is incapable of being abused, because of magical incantations that will be placed upon it. Also, our officials can never be corrupted by power, because they are as gods.
[snip]
Because “largely uncharted territory” and “unclear about the legal boundaries” and “little if any policy, guidance or procedures” are always the way to go when we’re considering mere civil liberties.
Anyone remember being brought up on rhetoric about how America stood for freedom and liberty?
What do those words mean any more?
[snip]
It’s the threshold-crossing here that’s revolutionary, and crucial. All this stuff was never supposed to be used against Americans. Now it’s suddenly okay. Trust the government!
This is arguably worse than the Bush/Gonzalez illegal wiretapping. Our military satellites are frightfully impressive. And they were never, never, never supposed to be turned on the American people.
Welcome to the surveillance state.