The Security Mentor

Former Department of Justice attorney Paul Ohm says the FBI is recording Internet activity wholesale and then searching the result for activities of particular suspects. The DoJ takes issue with that description.

That's a big difference from getting a warrant and listening to a mobster. What Ohm is describing is listening in on thousands of people to catch communications from one suspect.

But you have nothing to hide, so it doesn't matter. Unless you're gay in Tennessee and the wrong officer is looking through the mass of wiretap data. Unless the FBI decides to reuse the data for other purposes, and discovers that you were buying halide lamps. Tropical fish enthusiasts use them to keep the fish happy, but that purchase will make you an instant drug suspect. Or what if you're plannning a political demonstration?

That's only the things that can go wrong with honest law enforcement. Imagine an FBI agent who's sure his best friend is getting mistreated by his ex-wife and who decides to help the friend.

Limits on government are a security measure.