Originally Posted by ibex

That's true, but the technology which was once the exclusive domain of credit card companies, telemarketers and corporations is now in the hands of the NSA and other organizations who think the 4th amendment is a fucking joke. There already have been substantiated reports that certain anti war groups and Islamic religious organizations have been targeted by the Feds. As you say, this is nothing new, but the technical capabilities allow the government access to private information with the greatest amount of ease in our history.