Yes, Carnivore *is* scary. Just take a look at this FBI memo [workisafou...erword.com] which describes how Carnivore interfered with an anti-terrorism investigation involving Usama bin Laden. Pay close attention to the part which reads

"The software (i.e. Carnivore) was turned on and did not work correctly. The FBI software not only picked up the E-Mails under the electronic surveillance of the FBI's target (i.e. Usama), but also picked up E-Mails on non-covered targets."

In case you didn't know, picking up "E-Mails on non-covered targets" is a violation of federal wiretapping laws. I don't know about you, but I don't want anyone snooping on me, especially when they have no right to do so to begin with.

Aside from Carnivore and Echelon, we now have to worry about all the anti-terrorism legislation that's been passed, such as the PATRIOT Act [loc.gov] and the USA Act [senate.gov].

Some scary provisions:

• Authorizes "Sneak and Peek Searches": Authorizes expanded use of covert searches for any criminal investigation, thus allowing the government to enter your home, office or other private place and conduct a search, take photographs, and download your computer files without notifying you until later.
• Allows the CIA to Spy on Americans: Gives the Director of Central Intelligence the power to manage the gathering of intelligence in America and mandate the disclosure of information obtained by the FBI about terrorism in general - even if it is about law-abiding American citizens - to the CIA.
• Imposes Indefinite Detention: Permits authorities to indefinitely detain non-citizens, without meaningful judicial review.
• Expands Wiretap Authority: Minimizes judicial supervision of law enforcement wiretap authority in several ways, including: permitting law enforcement to obtain the equivalent of "blank" warrants in the physical world; authorizing intelligence wiretaps that need not specify the phone to be tapped or require that only the target's conversations be eavesdropped upon; and allowing the FBI to use its "intelligence" authority to circumvent the judicial review of the probable cause requirement of the Fourth Amendment [cornell.edu].

Basically, these bills now give our law enforcement unrestricted surveillance powers.