--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's a mistake to downgrade and…" description: "\"I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions of Americans phone calls and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/rand-paul-606_big-deal_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and_110441.jpg" --- # I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance… ![“I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions of Americans phone calls and that someone can go to a keyboard and put your name in and search it without a warrant.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/rand-paul-606_big-deal_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and_110441.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/rand-paul-606_big-deal_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and_110441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/095/rand-paul-606_big-deal_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and_110441.jpg) > “I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions of Americans phone calls and that someone can go to a keyboard and put your name in and search it without a warrant.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mass surveillance of phone calls is a serious intrusion of privacy that can be accessed without judicial oversight, undermining civil liberties. **In simple terms:** Collecting calls without warrants is a major privacy threat. Key Takeaway Unchecked data collection erodes freedom. Themes privacy surveillance civil liberties government overreach Mood concerned urgent Type political warning When to use this quote - government data requests - law enforcement investigations - corporate data mining Key Concepts digital rights rule of law Practical Applications - advocate for stronger warrant requirements - use encrypted communication tools Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards could balance security and privacy? - How can citizens hold agencies accountable? A Different Perspective Some argue that bulk data collection can help prevent terrorism, though evidence of effectiveness is limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Downgrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downgrade/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [As our voices rise in protest, the NSA monitors your every phone call. if you have a cell phone, you are under surveillance. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-our-voices-rise-in-protest-the-nsa-monitors-your-every-phone-call/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [This is an age in which one cannot find common sense without a search warrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-an-age-in-which-one-cannot-find-common-sense-without-a-search/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll see! We're going to the palace. Fetch Angua. We might need her. And bring the search warrant. You mean the sledgehammer, sir? Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-ll-see-we-re-going-to-the-palace-fetch-angua-we-might-need-her/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [If the courts regarded tweets and other social media information as private, it would not prevent the law enforcement from getting information it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/if-the-courts-regarded-tweets-and-other-social-media-information-as/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [You don't need a search warrant to go through someone's trash. Seriously. Once it hits the curb it is totally fair game-you an look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/you-don-t-need-a-search-warrant-to-go-through-someone-s-trash/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“bureaucrat said. “Come back with a search warrant”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/bureaucrat-said-come-back-with-a-search-warrant/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [And indeed, last week, the FBI executed a search warrant on my residence. This happened one day after my attorneys had left a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hatfill/and-indeed-last-week-the-fbi-executed-a-search-warrant-on-my/) [Steven Hatfill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hatfill/) > [In the U.S., you even lose legal rights if you store your data in a company's machines instead of your own. The police need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/in-the-u-s-you-even-lose-legal-rights-if-you-store-your-data-in-a/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Those things gave us enough, more than enough, for a search warrant. One of those steel-ram, siren blaring, you're-so-totally-fucked raids that every copper loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bingham/those-things-gave-us-enough-more-than-enough-for-a-search-warrant-one/) [Harry Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bingham/) > [You could have another downgrade. You could certainly have a stock market reaction that would be negative. And, I think nobody who looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/you-could-have-another-downgrade-you-could-certainly-have-a-stock/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [Congratulations on your downgrade, shes one hell of a 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-on-your-downgrade-shes-one-hell-of-a-5/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To downgrade the human mind is bad theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/to-downgrade-the-human-mind-is-bad-theology/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Any b!tch before me was practice. any b!tch after me is a DOWNGRADE!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/any-b-tch-before-me-was-practice-any-b-tch-after-me-is-a-downgrade/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [No matter how valuable you are and your ideas, fools will certainly play both of you down, so exclude yourselves from the inflammatory environs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-valuable-you-are-and-your-ideas-fools-will-certainly/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Just remember: any bitch before me was a mistake and any bitch after me is a downgrade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asheya/just-remember-any-bitch-before-me-was-a-mistake-and-any-bitch-after/) [Asheya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asheya/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. 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I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [If there were an ounce of courage in this body I would be joined by other senators… saying they will not tolerate this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/if-there-were-an-ounce-of-courage-in-this-body-i-would-be-joined-by/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More Big deal quotes > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. 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Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. 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