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U.S. to let spy agencies scour Americans' finances

Arbo

Arbo

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U.S. to let spy agencies examine Americans' finances - chicagotribune.com

The Obama administration is drawing up plans to give all U.S. spy agencies full access to a massive database that contains financial data on American citizens and others who bank in the country, according to a Treasury Department document seen by Reuters.​
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There was an outcry over wiretapping, then it went away... there has been no outcry of things worse than wiretapping ... guessing nobody will care about this either (at least nobody on one side).
​
 
Financial institutions that operate in the United States are required by law to file reports of "suspicious customer activity," such as large money transfers or unusually structured bank accounts, to Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation already has full access to the database. However, intelligence agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, currently have to make case-by-case requests for information to FinCEN.
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Honestly, I don't have much of a problem with this.
 
It's probably no more intrusive than the file EquiFax has on you at any given moment.
 
Does anyone really think they weren't doing this anyway?
 
Erod said:
Does anyone really think they weren't doing this anyway?
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Of course they aren't doing it, that would be illegal.

If they started doing things like that, what would be next? We would probably end up selling guns to cartels.:shoot:gunsmilie:gunner:
 
...or importing cocaine...
 
Giving weapons to terrorists. Assassinating American citizens without a trial. Letting their dog poop in your yard and not cleaning it up.
 
They can look at my $200 checking account all they want.
 
I'm not old enough to bank, but I don't want the government to know my business
 
It's looking more and more like 1930's Germany around here.
 
Velvet Elvis said:
It's looking more and more like 1930's Germany around here.
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Suspicious banking activity has been reported to the government for while now. What specifically are you concerned about? I'm against government snooping, etc. But I really don't think that is that case here, and I don't see how any of this could harm you or affect your privacy. You probably give the government much more information about your finances when you file taxes than what they get from these reports.
 
Pilot said:
Suspicious banking activity has been reported to the government for while now. What specifically are you concerned about? I'm against government snooping, etc. But I really don't think that is that case here, and I don't see how any of this could harm you or affect your privacy. You probably give the government much more information about your finances when you file taxes than what they get from these reports.
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From my occupation, I know exactly what you mean about "suspicious banking activity being reported to the government." But that's private businesses doing the reporting, and only according to very very strict guidelines.

Somehow, when the government does the investigating, I seriously doubt there will be those "strict guidelines."
 
Pilot said:
Suspicious banking activity has been reported to the government for while now. What specifically are you concerned about? I'm against government snooping, etc. But I really don't think that is that case here, and I don't see how any of this could harm you or affect your privacy. You probably give the government much more information about your finances when you file taxes than what they get from these reports.
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Suspicious fiancial activity can be investigated by authorities, just like anything else they might be suspicious of in your home, in your car or in your pocket.

And the same rules, from the Fourth Amendment, apply:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

To snoop on everybody is an invasion of privacy. Firstly, they are doing this for everything else anyway, including the very messages we post on this board, which altogether is basically everything. This is just one part of it here. But even with these financial records they can track you, knowing everywhere you've ever withdrawn money, used a card to buy whatever, and exactly when you used it.
 
I'm opposed to spying on American citizens who've not committed any crimes without a warrant.

I believe that in order for anyone to have access to any American's financial, internet, cell phone, business or personal data they should have to get authorization from a judge else the act should be considered unconstitutional. The state should not be mining, storing, selling or sharing the data of their citizens for any purpose... on matter of liberty I care not for appeals to safety.
 
Arbo said:
U.S. to let spy agencies examine Americans' finances - chicagotribune.com



There was an outcry over wiretapping, then it went away... there has been no outcry of things worse than wiretapping ... guessing nobody will care about this either (at least nobody on one side).
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The government can spy on my finances all it wants to. They will find out that I am broke, and then they will take pity on me and make me an honorary banker, so I don't have to pay taxes any more, and get a big fat check from the government every year to boot. LOL.
 
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