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FISA theoretically had restraints as well (50 U.S.C. § 1803, Pub.L. 95–511, 92 Stat. 1788, enacted October 25, 1978), but it did not stop the process from being corrupted and automated. When the capability is there, there is nothing stopping it from being abused similarly. The Western country and alleged safeguards that happen to be in charge of said apparatus is really irrelevant.

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You are misunderstanding. The question was why the BND sharing with the NSA was worse than what the BND does on its own.

What I was saying in response was not there is perfect safety against abuse, but that if the BND could share information freely with the NSA, it would render the existing safeguards largely worthless, because the NSA is not bound by the national laws of Germany.

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