The fearmongering after last week's attacks in Paris does nothing to improve security and helps the terrorists' cause.
The terrorist attacks in Paris last week left people angry and fearful. But rather than listen to the age-old advice to never make decisions when you're mad, too many American politicians and security officials have rushed to propose measures that further erode individual freedoms and, yes, security.
In place of reasoned proposals that might actually improve security, knee-jerk reactions have centered on two areas: increasing government surveillance powers and banning encryption because terrorists use it to communicate.
It will shock no one that politicians were quick to exploit the tragedy to their possible advantage. From Jeb Bush calling for a restoration of NSA collection of Americans' phone calls to Marco Rubio trying to score points against Ted Cruz for voting to "weaken the U.S. intelligence programs ... leaving America vulnerable," the posturing was shameless -- and deceitful.
The USA Freedom Act passed this summer by Congress was very modest reform that merely narrowed the scope of government's mass, untargeted collection of domestic phone records. Emails and international calls are still fair game. Phone companies hold onto that phone data, so the government can still make specific requests. Oh, and the new arrangement hasn't even taken effect. Also, the courts issued a stay to enable the NSA to carry on with business as usual, past the planned Nov. 29 end date. How does any of that constitute a "weakening of U.S. intelligence programs"?
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