In a letter sent Thursday to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the lawmakers say that because VPNs obscure a user’s true location, and because intelligence agencies presume that communications of unknown origin are foreign, Americans may be inadvertently waiving the privacy protections they’re entitled to under the law.

Several federal agencies, including the FBI, NSA, and FTC, have recommended that consumers use VPNs to protect their privacy. But following that advice may inadvertently cost Americans the very protections they’re seeking.

The letter was signed by members of the Democratic Party’s progressive flank: Senators Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Edward Markey, and Alex Padilla, along with Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Sara Jacobs.

  • cmeu@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I hate the way this is getting it twisted.

    Just because your signal is misinterpreted does not mean you’ve waived your rights. It means their system and it’s use of citizen’s data is flawed and violates the law.

    • Greyghoster@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      I thought the law said that inadvertent collection has to be deleted asap not that you forfeited your rights.

  • Schwim Dandy@piefed.zip
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    1 month ago

    …Americans may be inadvertently waiving the privacy protections they’re entitled to under the law.

    We have no protections and no privacy, laws or no.

  • f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyz
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    1 month ago

    Old news… If you are using a VPN, it’s “foreign communications” and subject to spying; and if you aren’t using a VPN, they route the data through a room that’s considered a foreign enclave (like an embassy), turning it into “foreign communications” and subject to spying.

  • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    So in the US, locking your metaphorical doors or windows, or closing your digital curtains, means that authorities can presume you are hiding something and your 4th Amendments rights cease to be valid.

    • hansolo@lemmy.today
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      1 month ago

      All while abusing Third Party Doctrine to buy your data from advertisers and Palantir anyway.

      If a VPN routing of someone in Chicago is via Texas and California, what judge would see that as “foreign”? Oh, right, one of their idiot ones they like to give cases like this.

  • Tempus Fugit@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Lmao, what privacy protections? This is the land of the grift, you’re more protected using a VPN than without one.