NSA: Global 'Trendsetter' for Privacy Abuse

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/01/21-3



As other countries follow suit, soon there will be 'no safe haven,' warns Human Rights Watch

NSA: Global 'Trendsetter' for Privacy Abuse
- Lauren McCauley, staff writer
Published on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 by Common Dreams

~snip~

"As the world’s information moves into cyberspace, surveillance capabilities have grown commensurately," writes New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) in their annual World Report (pdf). "The U.S. now leads in ability for global data capture, but other nations and actors are likely to catch up, and some already insist that more data be kept within their reach."

"As the birthplace of the Internet, home to major related industries, and with most global online communications running through its territory or facilities, the U.S. is uniquely placed to conduct global surveillance," the report continues.

Further, HRW notes, the United States' exploitation of constitutional loopholes—particularly those limiting protections for foreigners and regarding the bulk collection of "metadata"—has enabled the broad expansion of surveillance of individuals both domestically and abroad.

"In the end, there will be no safe haven if privacy is seen as a strictly domestic issue, subject to many carve-outs and lax or non-existent oversight," the report warns.