This seems to be the largest area you're not yet grasping, Klapauzius - no American citizen in the US or anywhere else in the world is supposed to be a target! The simple fact that that we now ARE means the 'rule of law' has been broken or twisted to no longer be about supporting the citizenry.klapauzius wrote:AndyH wrote:I agree as well that you're life isn't likely to change - you'll continue to be in the 'target pool'. My life, however, has already changed as a result of this. Nearly all of my web interactions now are done on encrypted connections. I've changed my on-line security practices and done other things as well.
May I ask why you encrypt stuff, now that are you are no longer a target?
It's not about 'why should we keep using a 200 year old Constitution written by a bunch of dead white guys?' - it's about 1. the Constitution and bill of rights and 2. 200 or so years of law that has grown and evolved from that. The point, Klap, is that the 4th amendment says that before someone can break down my door and take my computer that they need probable cause that I'm committing a crime and they need a search warrant. The mass collection program completely circumvents that 'rule of law' - and that means the 4th Amendment is another of our rights that's been eroded since 9/11. It's not the only one!
So no - don't try to oversimplify or broad-brush this - it's not about encrypting a search engine link or connection to Youtube - it's about the fundamental loss of a basic right that we've enjoyed in this country for 200+ years - and we didn't get a vote.