privacy-is-not-a-crimeNational Security has come to mean less and less privacy for the general public. Now NSA under the façade of protecting the nation wants to sift through the entirety of the internet to fight terrorism. According to a scathing Wired report America’s top spy, Michael McConnell, is requesting access to any and all web-pages, emails, instant messages, pictures and anything that might be found on the internet. All of this without the need for a warrant.

From Wired:

Presumably using unsupported stats like that, in May 2007 McConnell convinced President Bush that a massive cyber-attack on a singe U.S. bank would be worse for the economy than than the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, the article reports. In response, the NSA developed a mind-boggling, but still incomplete, plan to eavesdrop on the internet in order to protect it.

In order for cyberspace to be policed, Internet activity will have to be closely monitored. Ed Giorgio, who is working with McConnell on the plan, said that would mean giving the government the authority to examine the content of any e-mail, file transfer, or Web search. “Google has records that could help in a cyber-investigation,” he said. Giorgio warned me, “We have a saying in this business: ‘Privacy and security are a zero-sum game.’”

The story has also been picked up by Wall Street Journal which reports McConnell acknowledges in order to accomplish his plan, the government must have the ability to read all the information crossing the Internet in the United States in order to protect it from abuse. Congressional aides tell The Journal that they, too, are also anticipating a fight over civil liberties that will rival the battles over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. … McConnell, a South Carolina native, also reveals that he fancies himself a fabulous dancer.