Scott is joined by David Ruiz to talk about the latest developments to U.S. surveillance policy and how new policy is being written and passed to extend the spirit of expiring elements of the Patriot Act. Ruiz explains how the various elements of U.S. mass surveillance work, including how the FBI uses backdoor searches and parallel construction in order to construct cases against Americans. Scott and Ruiz attempt to assess just how much valuable intel is being collected by American spying, and how, because we’re totally in the dark about most things related to U.S. surveillance, it is very difficult to assess the effectiveness of the program.

David Ruiz writes about the NSA for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Follow him on Twitter: @davidalruiz.

Discussed on the show:

• Executive Order 12333
• FISA 702
• “215 Reasons Why Section 215 Needs to Go Away” (ACLU)
• “USA Liberty Act Won’t Fix What’s Most Broken with NSA Internet Surveillance” (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
• Backdoor Search
• “The USA Rights Act Protects Us From NSA Spying,” by David Ruiz (EFF)
• Parallel construction
• ” The Term ‘Homegrown Violent Extremist’ Needs Transparency,” by David Ruiz (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
• Steven Hatfill
• “Trial and Terror,” by Trevor Aaronson (The Intercept)
• “How The FBI Created a Terrorist,” by Trevor Aaronson (The Intercept)
• “N.S.A. Halts Collection of Americans’ Emails About Foreign Targets” (New York Times)

Today’s show is sponsored by: NoDev, NoOps, NotIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; 3tediting.com; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Darrin’s Coffee.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast (thescotthortonshow): Play in new window | Download