A controversial bill reauthorizing the Section 702 spy program may force whole new categories of businesses to eavesdrop on the US government’s behalf, including on fellow Americans.

If you’re in the US, now’s a great time to contact your Senators. You can either call the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or use the Senate directory to look up your legislators’ contact info.

“Stop the FBI from expanding warrantless surveillance of innocent Americans. The House reauthorization contains the largest expansion of FISA Section 702 since it was created in 2008. Please oppose it – and please oppose any attempt to reauthorize FISA Section 702 that doesn’t include warrant requirements, both for Section 702 data and for our sensitive, personal information sold to the government by data brokers.”

      • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        0·
        4 months ago

        Sure. German history past the Second World War just didn’t seem too relevant for US-American high school for me.

        • TheFriar@lemm.ee
          0·
          4 months ago

          You never learned about east/west Germany? Post-war reconstruction? The Berlin Wall? German reunification? Etc?

          • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            0·
            4 months ago

            I went to a German school way after the Wende and know US-American high-schools from various media, but I’m not too familiar with US-American curricula.

    • thenexusofprivacy@lemmy.worldOP
      0·
      4 months ago

      Some of us do! But on the other hand when I sent out an action on this to a large group of local activists, I didn’t mention the StaSi, because I had a feeling that most people wouldn’t know what it was referring to.

    • SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      My grandma told me of a relative that came to visit them in the US from Eastern Europe (Slovakia I think) after the Soviet Union dissolved.

      One thing they noticed is that he always wore his shoes. Even when staying at home. Even to bed. They asked why and he explained that it was to give him a chance of escape if the Secret Police came and he was surprised that our family didn’t have to do something similar.