The internet is a communication method. It's powerful because it's widespread and fast, but it's not a 'tool for terrorism'. The internet doesn't make bombs or create extremism. People do that. Claiming that violating privacy is the only way to fight terrorism is ludicrous. If their goal was to make the US a lesser target of terrorism, they'd be changing foreign policy, monitoring financial flow and looking for equipment and materials. The TSA, for all their paranoia-fuelled craziness, is a much fairer way to stop terrorism than wide-spread monitoring of a communication channel.
As an aside, terrorism as a general thing isn't new. The US was founded with an act of what would now be considered terrorism (the Boston tea party). Americans are so hung up on their constitution, but they don't believe the founding fathers considered these situations when drafting it? Or did 'talking to each other more efficiently' so radically change things in ways they couldn't foresee?
You are attacking a straw man. I never said that violating privacy was the only way of fighting terrorism. There are undoubtly far better ways, but they are not the ways that the NSA are actually using and defending publically. And the government may not have alternative methods readily available.
"It is perfectly possible that the NSA really do need to damage human rights in order to fight terrorism"
This is the first sentence of your comment.
"the only answer the government have is to take away even more privacy"
Is in there too.
If the government doesn't have alternative ways readily available, then you are saying violating privacy is the only way to fight terrorism we have right now. This is demonstrably not true, since they do use a lot of better ways. There are many more ways to combat terrorism that they haven't even tried on any scale yet (at least publicly). The very premise that the NSA's actions are justified because the threat mandates it is flawed.
As an aside, terrorism as a general thing isn't new. The US was founded with an act of what would now be considered terrorism (the Boston tea party). Americans are so hung up on their constitution, but they don't believe the founding fathers considered these situations when drafting it? Or did 'talking to each other more efficiently' so radically change things in ways they couldn't foresee?