[–] ideologicidal 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
FISC is a relic of the post-911 police state, part of the PATRIOT act. A bill thousands of pages long, making sweeping changes to federal regulations, creating entire departments, passed literal days after the towers fell. Rep.Sensenbrennar just happened to have it tucked away in his office drawer.
An unaccountable group of anpnymous judges able to override the 4th amendment at a whim when requested by a clown sounds like poppy bush's idea of a good time. If it cannot operate transparently, it cannot operate.
[–] Blacksmith21 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
FISA/FISC was created in 1978.
[–] ideologicidal 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Right, it was under Carter's watch that 4A was stabbed in the back. It just took till 911 for the clowns to finish the job. Thanks for the correction, fren.
[–] Blacksmith21 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
The FISA is Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (a law) created in 1978 - not post 9/11 invention as others have mentioned. FISC = FISA Intelligence Surveillance Court and is the "oversight" body staffed with Federal judges and overseen by [drum roll] SCOTUS Judge John Roberts aka Compromised Johnny (think Affordable Healthcare Act).
The role of the FISC is to approve/deny requests for foreign surveillance aka wire tap. Now, you might think "wire tap" doesn't sound like a big deal, and of course the media mocked Trump for claiming that Trump Tower was bugged and his phones were tapped.
"Wire tap" is an archaic term, but it means legal authority has been given to use any and all technical means to acquire any form of information from the approved target. The term "wire tap" was created in the 1920s or 30s.
Fast forward to today - you've heard of the HAMR (aka HAMMER)? It is the supercomputer and AI developed by the CIA for the sole purpose of "wiretapping" foreign and we know now, domestic citizens. What can the HAMR do? Landline, cell, sat, GPS, On-star, email, Facebook, Twitter, Echo, Siri, etc. etc. etc. - and it can do it intelligently, adaptively, and present structured data in a format that an analyst can act upon.
FISA also approves the numebr of hops, which in most cases of approved surveillance warrants, is 2 or 3 connections to the subject are authorized. Trump calls a general, general calls his daughter, daughter calls a friend...friend is authorized.
Most FISA warrants are authorized for a 90 or 180 day period, requiring the requester to reappear in front of the FISC. Except, the President (0) can also reauthorize for another 90 or 180 day period. The law is vague here, I'm not sure if there is a limit to reauthorization.
Why is this significant? The warrants authorized against Trump for "Russian collusion", combined with the 3-hop rule, allowed the CIA to conduct what was known as Total Information Awareness-level snooping on anyone and everyone related to Trump. Re: 6 Degrees of separation.
AMA.
[–] Blacksmith21 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
If you want to understand better, watch the movie Enemy of the State and the TV series Person of Interest. POI is the HAMR known as The Machine in the series. Check it out.
Also research William "Bill" Binney. He designed Thin Thread which was the NSA precursor to the CIA's HAMR which was, in part, based on stolen tech.
[–] allonthesameteam 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Tip of the hat to you for the wisdom and effort. Hammer is the least known bombshell recently.
[–] Balthsgirl 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
THE FISC is supposed to be for foreigners only, but if they get a foreigner surveiled and it leads to communications with Americans, that's ok. Usually in these cases American's names are masked for their own protection. There were record numbers of unmasking of American's at the end of Obama's administration. This is likely do to them trying to peice together all the info about Trump and his connections.In the case of Trump, they manufactured BS to get the FISA warrant on Carter Page, who briefly worked with Trump campaign. That allowed them to surveil Page, anyone he was connected to (including Trump), and anyone Trump was connected to. This is a big deal because intelligence community swears about a warrant and raises their right hand swearing it is true with the pertinent facts and the reason they need to investigate. This includes any evidence that might show innocence. Each FISA that is applied for and extended goes through this process. Through timeline reconstruction, it is apparent that the facts sworn to in These FISA's known about relating to Trump contain knowing lies.
The FISC is a secret court, so most of the time targets of a FISA warrant don't know about it unless it leads to arrest or indictment.
[–] VOALTRON 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
FISA = FOREIGN. Intelligence. Surveillance. Act.
https://it.ojp.gov/PrivacyLiberty/authorities/statutes/1286
The key part being "foreign." In affect, this act is illegal, and unconstitutional as dystopian hell. But, the Supreme Court ruled otherwise, and allowed this constitutional abomination to exist in our country anyways.
It is only allowed to exist because it is supposed to be used only against foreign powers, and as such, technically (according to loose interpretation of the Constitution) does not violate the constitutional rights American citizens.
Edit. That's where the 0bama administration goons decided to abuse the law by trying to frame the POTUS, and associates as being foreign agents. It was a ploy to justify the illegal use of FISA powers in order to undermine a private citizen (Trump) from becoming elected. This is what totalitarian regimes do, not us.
[–] ketoll [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
So did MI6 / Christopher Steele / Five Eyes spy on Trump from foreign soil to get just enough dirt in order for Obama entities to us to get the FISA court warrant?
That's what I've interpreted from the "abuse" part, but not sure if I'm way off.
Also, thank you for that link, excellent in-depth info!
[–] DammitMan 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
The warrant was obtained because the applicants, Comey et al, said the dossier was verified. The judges relied on the honesty of such a claim. Additionally, it is believed by some that the signing judges were sympathetic to the cause and didn’t look to hard for proof.
[–] 21033480? 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Court