Does Our Government Spy For Profit?

Written by: Tech Anon

Anyone who would entertain this thought would probably say “why not” or maybe “it doesn’t surprise me”. Since the renowned Edward Snowden took off and came forward all at the same time, the American people, along with a good part of the world, have had their eyes opened to all the circumstances that lurked in the back of your mind. Things that you never had enough interest in nor were even concerned to ask about.  Enter the NSA, HSA, CIA and all those other acronyms of justice.

Now, Corporate spying and espionage are not a new idea. People have been stealing from one another since the beginning of time for various reasons. The government, on the other hand, denies having any part or reason to be a part of corporate or industrial deceitfulness… period. Our illustrious leaders completely separate themselves from the likes of the Chinese individuals that hacked the NY Times in January of 2013, Google in 2009 and others rarely heard about. The Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper has gone so far to say “It is not a secret that the Intelligence Community collects information about economic and financial matters…. What we do not do, as we have said many times, is use our foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of—or give intelligence we collect to—U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line.”* Hmmmm… Says you? Or are you yet another puppet? 

Enter Edward Snowden…again. In a public interview broadcast in Germany in January of 2013** He stated; “The U.S. National Security Agency is involved in industrial espionage and will grab any intelligence it can get its hands on regardless of its value to national security.” While citing the Siemens Company as a target, Snowden also claims the NSA has secretly installed software in almost 100,000 computers around the world to enable them to carry out surveillance or even provide a routing to enable digital attacks. This program named Quantum*** was used since (at least) 2008 and is only a tidbit of a 52 BILLION dollar intelligence “Black budget”**** according to the infamous Snowden and the Washington Times.

Who decides whom to peek at? Why, The Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence of course. Although I don’t think this is what President Regan had in mind when he signed E.O. 12333 in the 80’s. There is law to protect US citizens though. *cough cough* According to Cornell law, Section 702 of the U.S. code basically states that “an acquisition may not intentionally target any person known at the time of acquisition to be located in the United States”***** among other limitations.

Now, back to the original question and maybe some …reality? Does our government spy for profit or participate in technological espionage? The only ones that will ever really know are the ones making the money from it all. Who is to say that Edward Snowden didn’t take off with a pile of stolen technology to sell and that’s what pissed off the high and mightiest? Taking money out of a person’s pocket is the same as pulling food out of their mouth these days. James Clapper made his statements about not giving any information or trade secrets our government snatches to US companies. The first thought that pops up here is “oh, so they sell it to them?” Money makes the world go round. You want it, need it or have developed the skills to do without it. There’s no way to prove or disprove that any given “agent” of the government won’t skim or sell something that’s been acquired to pad their own pockets. It’s seen on TV and in movies constantly so, the idea has been there a long time. If media can think it up, there’s someone that’ll try to use it. 

All kidding aside, the mysticism of our government and how it’s been perverted into what it’s become is no joke. The information is out there to be found without puffery or ludicrous stroking. There need only be a desire to look for it and learn from it.  This corner of the world is filled with conspiracy theories, propaganda and even more government B*******. It’s in the mailbox, the inbox, the newspaper and the radio.  One final block added to the toddler’s wobbly skyscraper?

A recently leaked paper called the “Quadrennial intelligence Review, Final Report, 2009”******

The very last paragraph of the conclusion to this report states:

“(U) In conclusion, QICR 2009 highlights the urgency to begin developing new approaches to prepare for an uncertain future. Elements of the National Intelligence Program, foreign intelligence services, state, local and tribal governments and industry are encouraged to consider these insights in conducting their own long term  planning efforts. The rigor with which QICR 2009 developed these ideas to mitigate strategic and institutional risk must now be translated into meaningful agenda items for the IC and its partners to carry forward.”

Look around you. Learn everything you can and work together. We are Anonymous and We are strong. What do YOU think?

______________________________________________________________________________

Sources:

*https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/09/05/us-governments-plans-use-economic-espionage-benefit-american-corporations/

**http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/26/us-security-snowden-germany-idUSBREA0P0DE20140126

***http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/nsa-effort-pries-open-computers-not-connected-to-internet.html

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/document/2014/09/05/quadrennial-intelligence-review-final-report-2009/ (quadrennial intelligence review final report)

****http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/black-budget/?hpid=z5 ($52 billion “black budget)

*****http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/1881a (section 702, US CODE- Procedures for targeting certain persons outside the United States other than United States persons)

******https://firstlook.org/theintercept/document/2014/09/05/quadrennial-intelligence-review-final-report-2009/