Who Watches The Watchers

Obamacare will question your sex life

"'Are you sexually active? If so, with one partner, multiple partners or same-sex partners?' Be ready to answer those questions and more the next time you go to the doctor, whether it’s the dermatologist or the cardiologist and no matter if the questions are unrelated to why you’re seeking medical help. And you can thank the Obama health law. Doctors and hospitals who don’t comply with the federal government’s electronic-health-records requirements forgo incentive payments now; starting in 2015, they’ll face financial penalties from Medicare and Medicaid. The Department of Health and Human Services has already paid out over $12.7 billion for these incentives." Continue reading →

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Minnesota Obamacare exchange disclosed personal info of at least 2,400

"While MNsure officials said the mistake was quickly resolved and was the first security breach, the incident highlights concerns of those who have hounded the state for years about privacy issues surrounding the online-based health insurance exchanges. The new marketplaces are a key vehicle for implementing the federal health law, often called Obamacare. Users of the exchange will need to provide sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, that will be sent to a federal hub to verify such things as citizenship and household income. This information will determine whether consumers using MNsure qualify for public health programs or tax credits that will lower premiums." Continue reading →

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‘Follow the Money’: NSA Spies on International Payments, Banking, Cards

"The National Security Agency (NSA) widely monitors international payments, banking and credit card transactions. The spying is conducted by a branch called 'Follow the Money' (FTM). The collected information then flows into the NSA's own financial databank, called 'Tracfin,' which in 2011 contained 180 million records. Some 84 percent of the data is from credit card transactions. Further NSA documents from 2010 show that the NSA also targets the transactions of customers of large credit card companies like VISA for surveillance. The NSA's Tracfin data bank also contained data from SWIFT, a network used by thousands of banks to send transaction information securely." Continue reading →

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“Privacy” Held Hostage By “Security” – Public Unimpressed

"Since Sept. 11, our government has acted as if security and privacy were an either/or proposition. In other words, an increase in one causes a decrease in the other. Like a seesaw, if one side goes up, the other side must go down. As federal security consultant Ed Giorgio stated several years ago in a widely quoted New Yorker article, 'Privacy and security are a zero-sum game.' Apparently, in order to be more 'secure,' we must accept less 'privacy.' That includes allowing increased warrantless surveillance and scrutiny by the government. So is the government’s argument sound?" Continue reading →

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Jordan lawmaker fires Kalashnikov assault rifle at colleague

"A Jordanian MP was arrested after firing a Kalashnikov assault rifle in parliament at a colleague on Tuesday, without causing injuries, judicial and parliamentary sources said. The source said the shooting came after an argument broke out in parliament on Sunday between Damissi and another member, Yahia al-Saud. Video footage emerged showing Damissi removing his shoes and Saud his belt during the dispute, which flared due to differences over parliamentary procedure, before they were separated. In July 2012, a live television debate on domestic issues between two deputies also degenerated into fisticuffs before one of them pulled out a gun and was overpowered." Continue reading →

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Police captain, chief, firefighter all sexually assault same teenage girl

"Old Forge Mayor Michele Avvisato confirmed police Capt. Jamie Krenitsky submitted a letter of resignation Friday morning. She declined to comment further, citing pending litigation against the borough. Police charged Mr. Krenitsky and Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza with sexually assaulting the same teenage girl around the same period of time. In 2004, the girl, then a 15-year-old junior firefighter, began a sexual relationship with Chief Semenza, also then a Fire Department captain. The relationship lasted until 2007. Former borough firefighter Walter Chiavacci, also accused of sexually assaulting the girl, pleaded guilty to indecent assault in December." Continue reading →

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Crooked cop admits to stealing $6K from DA’s office

"A crooked NYPD detective pled guilty last week to stealing nearly $6000 from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office where he had headed a wiretap and surveillance squad. Michael Bazerman, an 18-year veteran, copped to misdemeanor official misconduct, forfeited his $70k a year pension and medical benefits – worth an estimated $3 million – and must pay full restitution. The Staten Island father of two faced up to 7 years in prison on over 300 counts of grand larceny, forgery and other charges for submitting bogus expense reports to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2011." Continue reading →

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Ex-TSA screener threatens LAX on eve of 9/11 anniversary

"Early this morning, members of a federal task force arrested Alpha Onuoha, a screener with the Transportation Security Administration who quit his position. According to Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Laura Einmiller, Onuoha had been suspended recently, but suddenly resigned his position Tuesday afternoon and allegedly left a 'suspicious package' for another screener at TSA’s LAX Headquarters. The package is believed to have contained an eight-page letter in which Onuoha allegedly discusses the incident that led to his suspension, as well as his general feelings of disdain for the United States." Continue reading →

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Mobile Crime-Fighting App Gives Police Instant Database Access

"More than 600 San Francisco Police Department officers started using the app Monday, giving them access to internal SFPD, California DOJ and federal law enforcement databases. An additional 1,000 officers with the department are expected to participate in the initiative by the end of 2013. Emergency 911 call histories will also be accessible via the device, along with data records used by law enforcement including booking photos, DMV records and criminal histories. Agents can use JusticeMobile on their iPads to check potential gun buyers at weekend firearms shows statewide by checking names against the Bureau of Firearms Armed Prohibited Persons (APPS) database." Continue reading →

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(Surveillance) Times have Changed

"It was only a year ago when the UK Home Office repeatedly made statements about how their capability to collect intelligence was degrading, and how new laws such as the Communications Data Bill were necessary to protect citizens. In hindsight, given the revelations about the UK domestic mass surveillance programs, these once desperate cries for more crime- and terrorism-fighting tools now look like nothing more than attempts to illegitimately spy more on all citizens. Quotes from those debates look rather different now." Continue reading →

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