Ask HN: Can we detect the NSA's pause collecting data? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Can we detect the NSA's pause collecting data?

19 pointsadamrights9 comments

With the Patriot Act expirations last night -- and the at least legal mandate the NSA pause some of its collection programs until the new PA gets passed -- do you think there are ways we could detect this?

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This is such a great question. Personally, I fear the worst; which is that they are still continuing to bulk collect, yet are simply saying that they are not.

I'm not an expert on telecommunications. However, my guess is that in order to detect it, we would need someone who has direct access to the access network[1] (and possibly more?).

Plus the knowledge on how to detect surveillance (sudden drop in data transfer?). It would also require someone who's brave enough to take the risk to spill the beans.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_network

What about looking at electricity consumption by the NSA facilities. If they've turned the whole thing down there should be a sharp dropdown.

That's a smart angle it could fall under FOIAble data, anyone have credit at https://www.muckrock.com/?

One thing we learned from the Snowden revelations is that the NSA routinely uses convoluted legal justifications to do it's dirt. I'd be very skeptical that any slowdown/stoppage has actually occurred because it's likely they are simply continuing to operate under some other statute their lawyers have twisted around.

I don't think there would be a plausible way to detect this. IIRC the bulk data collection was implemented by splicing into network wires at key locations and routing the traffic two ways, into the bulk data collection rooms, and out its intended direction.

Well it doesn't take much to think: keep the servers running, assume the House version will eventually pass and it can be used to back justify during this little gap period.

My guess is that there is no big red "Stop collecting data" button at NSA headquarters :)

Aren't the collection programs that are related to the pause concerned with phone records?

Isn't it sad that the question seems funny? I'd love to read some technical/factual answers...

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