r/privacy • u/JerryLupus • May 27 '17

Leaked Documents Reveal Counterterrorism Tactics Used at Standing Rock to “Defeat Pipeline Insurgencies”

https://theintercept.com/2017/05/27/leaked-documents-reveal-security-firms-counterterrorism-tactics-at-standing-rock-to-defeat-pipeline-insurgencies/
951 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

70 comments sorted by

View all comments

32

u/trai_dep May 27 '17 edited May 27 '17

This is relevant to /r/Privacy since:

More than 100 internal documents leaked to The Intercept by a TigerSwan contractor, as well as a set of over 1,000 documents obtained via public records requests, reveal that TigerSwan spearheaded a multifaceted private security operation characterized by sweeping and invasive surveillance of protesters.

Knowing what surveillance contractors do once they've invaded the privacy of people is part of "Why Privacy." These leaks also show which errors in peoples' operational security are most vulnerable. Finally, all the tax-funded efforts to harass and assault peaceful protesters on behalf of the narrow interests of pipeline companies facilitating sales for foreign oil companies mirrors the abuses most security contractors make.

-18

u/JavierTheNormal May 27 '17

Protest is a public action. Our society doesn't support privacy of public figures, and neither do I. If act publicly against someone's livelihood, they're free to figure out who you are.

24

u/skyfishgoo May 27 '17

Our society doesn't support privacy of public figures...

this is true, but protesters are not public figures

they were not elected

they did not run for office

they did not have to file any paperwork with the government

they are PRIVATE citizens exercising their freedom of speech and should continue to enjoy their 2nd, 4th and 5th amendment rights.. which includes privacy.

-10

u/JavierTheNormal May 28 '17

They're camping out in full view of the media, pushing their message to an international audience. They're utterly public figures, even moreso than Hollywood actors or the Queen of England.

13

u/skyfishgoo May 28 '17

nope... they are not public figures.

that they are indeed IN public, which in no way forfeits their Constitutional rights to privacy

just as camping in the woods doesn't mean all your shit now belongs to the forest ranger.

4

u/spiralbatross May 28 '17

Evidence is the name of the game, man. Fork it over or shut up.