HLS 6050 DF4 Initial Social Sciences Assignment Paper

Listening to The Enemy
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Listening to The Enemy
The issue on fighting terrorism using data collection strategies one that is associated with mixed feeling from the public. Since the act of terror of 9/11, the government has been all over the place trying to collect as much information as they can on the enemy before they strike (Masi, 2015). This is a front that is largely skewed and one that has left the government on the defensive constantly, trying to keep up with the enemy without success. One of the most recent twist of the government’s misguided attempts at gaining access to information on the communication strategies of the terror networks was brown over in the tuff war between Apple and the FBI.
As Alessandria Masi states in the article ‘NSA Phone-Data Collection May Be Illegal, But Terrorists Stopped Using Phones Long Ago’, is a misguided approach at a terminal problem that keeps changing in tactics (Masi, 2015). The terrorists no longer use phones to communicate as they understand that they are being tapped into. Yet the government keeps on insisting that they need to tap into the citizens’ phone calls and emails to get to the terrorists before they attack again (Masi, 2015). This is a violation of the Patriot Act and a complete waste of resources that only leaves curious citizens, wondering what is the motive behind their personal conversations having third parties. Even the United States Court of Appeal pointed to the waste of state national resources, pursuing the issue on getting cell phone data of their citizens (Masi, 2015).
The element of wiretapping was signed into law after the attack on 9/11. At the time, it seemed as the most strategic approach towards making sure the government stayed ahead of the terrorists. It has been fourteen years and terrorists have changed tactics (Masi, 2015). Most of the terrorist groups use the internet and internet enabled communication strategies to pass their messages. Relying on wiretaps is completely missing the point and a waste of national resources, while harassing citizens in violation of their privacy as the terrorists communicate and evolve (Masi, 2015).
References
Masi, A. (2015). NSA Phone-Data Collection May Be Illegal, But Terrorists Stopped Using Phones Long Ago. International Business Times. Retrieved 1 February 2017, from /nsa-phone-data-collection-may-be-illegal-terrorists-stopped-using-phones-long-ago-1913231
Appendices
NSA Phone-Data Collection May Be Illegal, But Terrorists Stopped Using Phones Long Ago
By Alessandria Masi @alessandriamasi On 05/07/15 AT 5:13 PM
* An Islamic State group militant uses a bullhorn to make an announcement to residents of Tabqa, a city near the ISIS headquarters in Raqqa, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2014. Photo: Reuters
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* ISIS supporters on Twitter have started an anti-American campaign, threatening to conduct terror attacks in the country. Above, a man waves an ISIS flag in Raqqa, Syria, June 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters
* An Islamic State group militant uses a bullhorn to make an announcement to residents of Tabqa, a city near the ISIS headquarters in Raqqa, Syria, on Aug. 24, 2014. Photo: Reuters
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* ISIS supporters on Twitter h...