FBI Gets Unlimited Access to Cellular Network

Today I read an article that talks about how a certain unnamed cellular provider has given unlimited access to their network to the FBI.

Pasdar discovered evidence of the backdoor when he was part of a rapid deployment team that was brought in to facilitate a large-scale network security hardware migration for the mobile carrier. During the migration, Pasdar was instructed not to migrate the traffic for one particular DS-3, which was referred to as the "Quantico Circuit" by consultants who worked closely with the carrier (the FBI Academy is based in Quantico, Virginia).

This is insane. I understand the need for the FBI to have access to the cellular network but there needs to be some kind of oversight. The Founding Fathers of the USA put checks and balances into the government for a reason; so one branch or division of the government could have so much power. Plus, a system is already in place for the FBI to listen on someone's phone calls. It's called a warrant, and it is there to protect citizens. If the FBI needs to monitor someone then they need to have a reason and some kind of evidence. They shouldn't be allowed to monitor anyone at will.

Now the FBI will say they need this type of access to help fight domestic terrorism or some other scary catch phrases. Anyone that believes that is lying to themselves. It's a false sense of security. Just because the FBI can listen to a farmer on his tractor in the middle of Kanas or a business man in Chicago does not make you safer. If you believe that it does please explain to me and provide evidence of how it does. I have yet to hear a government agency like the FBI or DHS explain how if they had more power my life would be safer. Do you realize you are more likely to die in an automobile accident or from a heart attach then from a terrorist attack?

Now you might be saying, "It's the FBI. I can trust them." Well if you trust the FBI not abuse it's power then you really need to pay more attention to the news. Perhaps you should start with this article where lawmakers found the FBI abusing their expanded powers granted to the FBI by The USA Patriot Act. Here's another great article about a couple of activists that were bombed by someone. The FBI later arrested the couple, branded them eco-terrorists, illegally searched their homes, and started a slanderous PR campaign against the couple. Then there's the instances of the FBI losing laptops with sensitive information on them. The FBI even has problems paying phone bills because it's employees are embezzling money.

Ever since 9/11 occurred, it seems like the Executive branch of the government has been consolidating a lot of power and it worries me that the majority of the country is okay with that. People don't seem to mind that much that our rights outlined in the US Constitution are slowly being eroded away in favor of "better" security.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That is the fourth amendment to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights. I'm not a lawyer, but to me the FBI having complete access to listen to a cellular network at will without any type of warrant fundamentally violates the fourth amendment. Remember, the Constitution isn't there to give us rights. We already have the rights. The Constitution is there to protect our rights and to give the government the power to ensure our rights are protected.

Maybe I'm just overreacting to this whole situation but when dealing with the government it's best to overreact before it's too late, and the day comes when the FBI knocks on your door because they are uncomfortable about something you said.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The people of the United States are the government and it's time people remembered that. America is on a downward spiral like all other great civilizations that came before it. It's time the people of America stopped acting with so much apathy and stood up to make this country the great respected country it once was.