Big Brother? Yes, there really is a Big Brother, and he looks out for Uncle Sam. Read the Wired.Online article about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court - a secret government court made up of seven judges that decides whether to grant the FBI eavesdropping permission. Last year they granded a whopping 1,228 eavesdropping orders. Since the organization's inception in 1978, they've never turned down an FBI request. The FISA never has to reveal the details of the evidence brought before them, the files are sealed and not even those facing convitions against them are allowed to see what evidence was brought against them at the FISA. Scary? Well, considering the the FISA orders go beyond a common wiretapping order, to include physical searches of property, yes. Considering the number of orders increased last year by 30% .. yes, damn scary.

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