After telling Congress that the National Security Agency does not collect data on millions of Americans, National Intelligence Director James Clapper has issued an apology, telling Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein that his statement was "clearly erroneous."

When Clapper was asked by Sen. Ron Wyden in March if the NSA collects "any type of data at all on millions, or hundreds of millions of Americans," Clapper answered, "No sir," before adding, "Not wittingly."

Calazza says Wyden "is deeply troubled by a number of misleading statements senior officials have made about domestic surveillance in the past several years. He will continue pushing for an open and honest debate."

freitasm: I did not mention specific cases such as IRD in my reply. Please do not put that as my opinion.Your argument is automatically invalidate  because of such fallacy.

Some trust governments blindly and this is bad. No power should be given without corresponding control and limits.

Once you give up rights to a government it is pretty hard to get them back.

The government says intelligence collection is needed to prevent a terror attack like the Boston bombings. But all the intelligence the USA collects didn't prevent that happening. The argument is at minimum invalid if not complete FUD.

bigal_nz: Salty was going on about Taxes and NSA. Read the full thread.Your argument is automatically invalidate.

freitasm:

bigal_nz: Salty was going on about Taxes and NSA. Read the full thread.Your argument is automatically invalidate.

You used my name as a vocative:

"Mauricio: Thinking that the gcsb or nsa will mine data and pass it on to all these other government agencies like ird for unpaid tax is conspiracy. I have never heard such rubbish."

So reading that it makes it look like I am the one who brough the IRD into the context, which was not the case.

If you are going to call people then at least use the proper context.

bigal_nz: 

NZ is not even close to a country with no controls or limits. Get a grip.

SaltyNZ:

bigal_nz: 

NZ is not even close to a country with no controls or limits. Get a grip.

'No limits' is exactly what the new legislation provides legally, as opposed to 'just do it secretly and hope nobody can prove it' as we are now.

Dairyxox: NZ should take this as an opportunity to become world leaders in information legislation
& taking a stand like how we did with the US years ago & nuclear warships.

bigal_nz:

freitasm:

bigal_nz: Salty was going on about Taxes and NSA. Read the full thread.Your argument is automatically invalidate.

You used my name as a vocative:

"Mauricio: Thinking that the gcsb or nsa will mine data and pass it on to all these other government agencies like ird for unpaid tax is conspiracy. I have never heard such rubbish."

So reading that it makes it look like I am the one who brough the IRD into the context, which was not the case.

If you are going to call people then at least use the proper context.

You were the one that made a post quoting Salty where he talked about taxes.......

freitasm: You missed the point. I can go back and remove Salty quote from that reply because it won't change a thing. My reply is still aimed at your comments and do not in any way involved "IRD" as you claim.

At no moment I put that claim in and quoting YOUR reply which contain someone else's quote doesn't mean I agree with that.

You are implying that because my argument is opposite to yours and I am quoting two sides then I am automatically supporting the other side.

The logic failure is astounding.

freitasm: Very different things. One thing is "conspiracy theory"

"Australian telecommunications giant Telstra has for a decade been storing huge volumes of electronic communications carried between Asia and America for surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. This includes not just the metadata, but the actual content of emails, online messages and phone calls. With the blessing of the Australian government Telstra agreed to route data through a 'U.S. point of contact through a secure storage facility on U.S. soil that was staffed exclusively by U.S. citizens.' The contract was prompted by Telstra's decision to expand its business in Asia by taking control of hundreds of kilometers of undersea telecommunications cables. The deal started under the Liberal Party and continued under Labor. The Greens have demanded an explanation."

Under the previously secret agreement, the telco was required to route all communications involving a US point of contact through a secure storage facility on US soil that was staffed exclusively by US citizens carrying a top-level security clearance.

The data Telstra stored for the US government includes the actual content of emails, online messages and phone calls.

The US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation also demanded that Telstra "provide technical or other assistance to facilitate ... electronic surveillance".

In 2001, when the "network security agreement" was signed, Telstra was 50.1 per cent owned by the Commonwealth Government.

The 2001 contract was prompted by Telstra's decision to expand into Asia by taking control of hundreds of kilometres of undersea telecommunications cables.

Telstra had negotiated with a Hong Kong company to launch Reach, which would become the largest carrier of intercontinental telecommunications in Asia. The venture's assets included not just the fibre-optic cables, but also "landing points" and licences around the world.