Liberty Under Siege: The Largest Mass Surveillance Effort in American History

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Posted on 12/07/2024 9:20:56 AM PST by MtnClimber

Before January 6th, 2021, financial surveillance in the United States was largely limited to a well-defined framework designed to combat money laundering and terrorism. Judicial oversight and clear legal protocols acted as key safeguards, ensuring that government access to citizens' financial information respected the rule of law. However, after the Capitol protests, these boundaries have shifted dramatically. Under the Biden administration, the purpose of surveillance has shifted from securing national interests to a tool for targeting political dissent—particularly individuals linked to Donald Trump and the "MAGA" movement. Take, for instance, the scrutiny faced by those who attended rallies or made donations to conservative causes; their financial transactions, travel records, and even personal communications have increasingly come under the federal microscope.

The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary has exposed just how far-reaching this financial scrutiny has become. Their interim report revealed that federal agencies searched databases using terms like "MAGA" and "TRUMP" to identify potential threats. Activities once considered harmless—such as booking a hotel, buying a firearm, or possessing certain religious texts—are now deemed suspicious indicators. Notably, Bank of America handed over customer information for those who happened to be in Washington, D.C., during the week of January 6th, without a valid warrant, seemingly at the mere suggestion of federal agencies. Every person visiting D.C. during this time is now effectively on a federal terror watch list. Their purchases—be it firearms, ammunition, or Bibles—and their movements are now monitored in what is arguably the largest, most prolonged mass surveillance campaign aimed at a single political group in U.S. history. Army veteran and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard reportedly found herself on the TSA's Quiet Skies watch list after endorsing Trump, illustrating how this expansive monitoring extends to high-profile individuals as well.

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Historically, Americans have been rightly wary of sweeping government surveillance. Following the September 11th attacks, the Patriot Act significantly expanded the federal government’s authority to monitor financial transactions and private communications, but these powers were intended to be wielded with caution and focus solely on credible security threats. Today, however, the Biden administration has moved from using these tools for national defense to deploying them against political opponents. Financial records meant to combat terrorism have now been repurposed to scrutinize those associated with conservative causes, including those who attended Trump rallies. This shift represents a dramatic and dangerous departure from the original intent of these surveillance measures.

While it is critical to support law enforcement in their legitimate aims to prevent extremist threats, indiscriminately labeling "MAGA" or "TRUMP" as potential threats to national security undermines the bedrock of political liberty. The scale of this intrusion is significant: over 25,000 federal employees reportedly have access to sensitive financial data without meaningful oversight. As detailed by the House Committee on the Judiciary, there are inadequate checks—such as judicial review or independent monitoring—which allows for potential misuse and unchecked abuse of this authority. The partisan leanings of the federal workforce, which is overwhelmingly aligned with the Democratic Party, raise concerns about how political biases could guide decisions regarding surveillance.

The risks of such unchecked authority cannot be understated. The echoes of COINTELPRO's abuses—where prominent civil rights leaders were subjected to unlawful harassment—serve as a reminder of the dangers posed by unchecked surveillance powers. The shift in focus from combating credible security threats to policing political thought shows a government that is losing sight of its constitutional limitations. It doesn't matter whether the pretext is foreign threats or so-called "domestic extremism"; the result is a pervasive erosion of civil liberties and government accountability.

To restore the balance, it is imperative that the power of surveillance be curtailed. Any future administration—including one led by Donald Trump—must prioritize the reduction of federal surveillance authority, appoint leaders to federal agencies who respect constitutional limits, and establish stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse. Congress also has a critical role: legislation must be enacted to curb the expansive reach of acts like the Bank Secrecy Act and eliminate broad, politically motivated data searches. These reforms are not just sensible—they are essential for ensuring that our government remains accountable to its citizens, instead of treating dissent as inherently suspect.

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1 posted on 12/07/2024 9:20:56 AM PST by MtnClimber

To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 12/07/2024 9:21:07 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)

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