NSA Phone Logs and Abuse

Last week, USA Today revealed that the NSA is collecting the phone call logs of millions of Americas without court approval. The claims is that the data is only being used to catch terrorists. Yet not even a week later and a rumor is suggesting that the the government may be using the data for less noble purposes. Say to discover the confidential sources for journalists.

It amazes that only 51% of Americans have a problem with this program. Its amazing how trusting people can be on the big picture things. Even assuming that the story about the journalist is incorrect, it does show a problem. The data can be used for such a purpose. If anyone tracked their phone calls for a 1 month to a 6 month period, its amazing what kind of picture it can paint about a person. How many times call your parents, your girlfriend, your mistress. Do you call gay chatllnes (see here for Daily Show joke/point). What would prevent someone, regardless of party, from using the information that the phone records might reveal to blackmail people including our government leaders?

People simply don't realize how much one's calling habits could reveal. If the information was trivial, the NSA wouldn't be interested in collecting it. Also, what is to prevent them from expanding on the data they collect?

For instance, your web site tendancies. Review your "history" from your browser. Take a step back from it and try to access it as a stranger. What would that history reveal about what you like and don't like? Your interests and curiousities? Would you want anyone to know these things?

Another example of useful information would be from your cell phone. Why not give the NSA logs of what towers your cell phone connects to. Using triangulation, a little guesswork and lots of data, the NSA could develop a map of your movements over a period of time. Maybe they notice on that business trip you went near that seedy section of town? Yet here your tax records show your married. Hmm and based on this form, you applied to run for office. Ah but you are not of the party I believe in, and the idea of you representing a state just bothers me. I think this info might be useful to your opponent. Far off scenario, yet closer to a possibility.

My point is that the data sounds irrelevant, which if that where true, why collect it? Why assume the data is safe and will never be abused. History has shown over and over again that people will abuse the power they are given. People can only ignore the tempation for so long. What is to prevent Bush from demanding that the NSA give him the phoning habits of certain congressional canditates? What would prevent them from expanding the data they seek? To accept that this collecting of records is all well and good, is to assume that the government can be trusted. Which cannot. Its not even a republican vs democract thing, its a right to privacy thing. Just remember, one day a democrat may become president again, do you want them to have access to this kind of power and control?