Obama pledges overhaul of U.S. surveillance programs

"Just watch us, if you can." It is like the USA children's game, pic a boo. If it can't been seen, it doesn't exist!

“And to others around the world I want to make clear once again that America is not interested in spying on ordinary people,” he said.

no, not spying - simply building profiles of ordinary people ... a subtle semantic difference but ultimately the same result...

" Additionally, Obama said he is forming an outside advisory panel(whom he will appoint) to review the surveillance programs, assigning a privacy officer(whom he will appoint ) at the National Security Agency and creating an independent attorney(whom he will select) to challenge the governments spy policies in court."

The Duplicious One has spoken. He must do something to make it appear he's doing something(other than spying on the citizenry).

Impeach the Fibber-in-Chief!

“All these steps are designed to ensure that the American people can trust that our efforts are in line with our interests and our values,” Obama told a news conference.

This from the most translucent administration in American history.

Well, if Obama pledges an overhaul with more transparency, I'm satisfied.

That's enough for me.

How about you?

(Sarcasm)

Well, here's the problem:

We have so many foreigners living in the U.S. from countries like Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, possibly Norh Korea - we really don't know, BUT we need to read and listen to what they are communicating between each other and their Homelands.

I'm all for the Bill of Rights, but this is the reality of the world we live in and the success of our National Security Surveillance Programs depends on the difference between going to a Sporting Event and walking away happy or walking away with metal pieces of a pressure cooker in your leg.

Or Commies theiving away National Security Information and material that is sensetive to the Department of Defense and DOD Contracting Companies.

I know the President is trying to put the lid back on the can of worms that THE RAT Snowden busted open, however, if you have nothing to hide - then don't worry about.

Just go about your daily life and enjoy the Beer and Sunshine :)

Just go about your daily life and enjoy the Beer and Sunshine :)

That's it stick your head in the sand and pretend it does not exist as a previous poster said, if you can't see it, it doesn't exist. The truth is that they are using this to spy on their political opponents and every American. No matter how innocent you are things can always be twisted to make you look guilty. Obama promises transparency, seems we heard that before but this is the most secretive government in the history of the United States. If you believe he will be honest and transparent let me sell you some beach front property in Kansas.

Even if they claim that there is a privacy officer watching over it; or other forms of 'impartial' oversight, like the current rubber-stamping FISA committee; who is to know if they just re-name the programmes, or just don't declare them, until another whistle blower comes forward. They are not going to give up these National Technical Means because of a few noisy politicians looking for votes, or a couple of limp newspaper 'tell-alls'. The US/ UK/ Aus/ NZ and other have a long history of spying on the rest of the world, then feigning astonishment and complaining when someone else does it to them. Business as usual folks, just move along....

okay..shazaam..all fixed. Now, please go back to your care-free lives. What don't you believe me?

"snooping on private Internet and telephone use"

I don't care if the U.S. gov't reads my posts on JT, and I hardly ever use the telephone.

Why pay attention to a known liar when you know he is just going to lie to you .... again?

RR

http://www.technewsdaily.com/18634-silent-circle-email-shutdown.html

Secure email companies are being forced to shut down by Obama.

I don't think much should change. The radical right will criticize Obama no matter what. Conspiracy theorists won't change their approach. The foreigners will continue to ignore their own governments. The liberals will continue to say we're a police state. The "clever, special people" will continue to say they aren't fooled. Putin will still be a hero.

What's the point of being less effective?

“And to others around the world, I want to make clear once again that America is not interested in spying on ordinary people,”

Sure, you're not 'interested', but you do it anyway. Then when someone/something sparks your interest, those people cease to be 'ordinary people'.

It seems to me that privacy is dead. The notion that the Internet could ever go back to being "anonymous" is clearly a delusional one. Even if the government reigns in the NSA, private companies will continue to push the boundaries in data collection. No need to name the companies that have mapped the entire bleeding Earth with cameras and are basically running the Truman Show for real. Or the companies that run their own satellites to track and monitor their devices anywhere they may go. Or the companies that have secreted away links to every picture you ever took, every text you ever sent, every post you ever made at JT, and the names and vacation plans of all your friends and family members. Or the companies that have a record of all your banking and financial information and access to your e-wallet and your transportation cards. Or the companies, now totally accepted by the sheeple in metropolitan centers, that take your picture hundreds of times a day under the guise of "security". If you think these companies don't cooperate and share information, you are dreaming. Your life is an open book to anyone with the means and the inclination to investigate it.

Mr Orwell was only off by a few decades.

doesn't matter unless every American throws out their iPhone and all other cellphones.

The U.S.A. has set up two governments, one a visible one that you vote for (haha) and another that runs the visible one, but that is outside the law.

One, where there is Freedom and Justice.

And the other that spies and operates with drones and has no truck with "liberal" justice.

In the light of this, I wonder what Obama's statements mean:

"American leadership around the world depends upon the example of American democracy and American openness," Obama said.

"Because what makes us different from other countries is not simply our ability to secure our nation, it's the way we do it - with open debate and democratic process."

President Obama may not think that Snowden is a Patriot but I must direct my thanks to Mr. Snowden for the information that I DID NOT receive from the President or the NSA!

That the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency collects and stores data without complete transparency to the public is outrageous! This would never have occurred in the past, when J.E. Hoover was in charge.

Of course, it is impossible to trust the "liar-in-chief" because he is an Islamic atheist socialist in the pockets of the corporations, so when he tries to initiate a national conversation on this subject, know that he is doing so precisely such that he can install software which will make your children (and pets) gay.

Is the ability to "connect the dots" really worth surrendering the digital data we have already provided to numerous companies to some moldering government database? Would this be worth preventing another 9/11? Frankly - and sadly - for many commentators, this depends on whether their party is in or out of power.

"The American Civil Liberties Union"

Oh good grief.

We've been watching you through your computer's camera, and we think you've been eating too many potato chips. Please try to cut back.

Good one Farmboy. Disabling the camera is the first thing I do when I buy a laptop.

But your point is taken. There is no reason for the government to "spy" on most people. They lead very ordinary boring lives and don't commit crimes or know anyone who does. No reason for the government to ever waste time going through the data they've "collected" on Average Joe.

A private company on the other hand has an interest in everyone with the potential to spend some money. They will watch you to the extent that it is beneficial to their business model. Count on it.

“American leadership around the world depends upon the example of American democracy and American openness,” Obama said.

Just making what best you ever had done, lie, lie and lie again.Yes!!!

America claims the moral high-ground, but liberty and freedom seem to be becoming a myth. How does this put us above China, Russia, and North Korea in terms of right and wrong.

Jeff198527,

America claims the moral high-ground, but liberty and freedom seem to be becoming a myth. How does this put us above China, Russia, and North Korea in terms of right and wrong.

The ghastly truth is that the U.S.A. is dropping down to the same level as these three countries.

In a few short years, the American dream has become a nightmare.

In a few short years, the American dream has become a nightmare.

Agreed, the Obama administration has been a nightmare of epic proportions.

hidingout

Agreed, the Obama administration has been a nightmare of epic proportions.

Well, surely Obama's offering is just the cream on the cake, or, more appropriately, the layer of grime on the surface of the turd dropped by Bush and his mob.