Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

CIA Collecting Records Of International Money Transfers: Reports

Nov 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is collecting records of international money transfers under the same law that the National Security Agency uses to collect Americans' phone and Internet records, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The data, which includes records from companies such as Western Union Co, is part of a database of financial and personal information authorized under the Patriot Act, the newspapers reported, citing unnamed current and former government officials.
The data does not include transfers within the borders of the United States or bank-to-bank transactions, they said.

The CIA declined to comment on specific programs to both newspapers but said its operations comply with the law. Reuters could not immediately reach the CIA or Western Union for comment.

The scope of data collection by government became public earlier this year after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked documents describing how the government collects far more Internet and telephone data than previously known.

The Obama administration and many lawmakers have defended the NSA programs as crucial in protecting U.S. national security and helping thwart past militant plots. They have also said the programs are carefully overseen by Congress and the courts. (Reporting by Lisa Shumaker; editing by Tom Pfeiffer)

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.com
Author: Reuters

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