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Archive | May, 2015

“The Vindication of Edward Snowden”

By on May 11, 2015 in Big Brother, NSA & Snowden, Privacy, US

Conor Friedersdorf at The Atlantic writes…

Snowden undeniably violated his promise to keep the NSA’s secrets. But doing so was the only way to fulfill his higher obligation to protect and defend the Constitution, which was being violated by an executive branch exceeding its rightful authority and usurping the lawmaking function that belongs to the legislature. This analysis pertains only to the leaked documents that exposed the phone dragnet, not the whole trove of Snowden leaks, but with respect to that one set of documents there ought to be unanimous support for pardoning his disclosure.

Read more: The Vindication of Edward Snowden »

(Via: BoingBoing)

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Recent court ruling does NOT end NSA mass surveillance

By on May 10, 2015 in NSA & Snowden, Privacy, Uncategorized, US

In an important decision last week an appeals court in New York ruled that NSA collection of Americans’ phone records is unlawful. However, this does not put an end to NSA mass surveillance.

What the court ruling says:

  • NSA collection of metadata is in breach of the Patriot Act, going beyond its mandate.
  • Now it will be possible for others to sue the NSA.
  • The collection of metadata practice will not end here and now, even if it is deemed unlawful.
  • The ball is back with US politicians, now considering to extend the Patriot Act.

What it does not say:

  • That bulk collection of meta data is unconstitutional.
  • That this collection must come to an end.

The ruling is a step in the right direction. But in no way a final victory.

Read more:
• NSA mass phone surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden ruled illegal »
• The courts stood up to NSA mass surveillance. Now Congress must act. »
• The court ruling (PDF) »

/ HAX

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Snowden: A matter of unintended consequences

By on May 6, 2015 in Big Brother, Democracy, NSA & Snowden, Privacy, surveillance

No, I’m not into conspiracy theories. Yes, I believe that Edward Snowden is a genuine hero and that he is acting from the best of intentions. Nevertheless, there is a side of the Snowden revelations that has been oddly overlooked. A matter of unintended consequences.

Some people already knew. Some were pretty convinced. Some suspected. A lot of people had a hunch. Then came Snowden. Now we all know. That is a good thing.

Unless you are the US Government or the NSA. (Or their international partners.) Then you are furious.

This is what is so intriguing. Shouldn’t people in high places be rather content?

Naturally governments and spy organisations don’t want their methods to be known. But what about the awareness of mass surveillance, as such?

The very notion of blanket surveillance will change people. For the worse, if you ask me. But, giving it some thought, politicians and bureaucrats might have reason to perceive it in another way. From their perspective, the way Big Brotherism changes people doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

It will thwart opposition. It will daunt traditional whistleblowers. It will deter activism. It will silence dissent. It will keep people in check. It will foster servitude.

Now, the people will — sadly enough — know that there are good reasons to fear the government. Suddenly we live in a society where mass surveillance is the new norm. A society where it is safer to keep a low profile.

How… convenient.

I fear it will not take long before this mindset will begin to saturate the ruling classes.

/ HAX

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If it’s on the Internet, it’s free to use?

By on May 5, 2015 in Copyright, EU, Intellectual Property, Internet

Rick Falkvinge makes an interesting point in a recent blog post…

On February 13, 2014, the European Court of Justice – the Supreme Court of the European Union – appears to have ruled that anything published on the web may be re-published freely by anybody else. The case concerned linking, but the court went beyond linking in its ruling. This case has not really been noticed, nor have its effects been absorbed by the community at large.

If Rick is right, this might be a game changer. Reactions? Input?

Link »

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German BND-NSA scandal: Government only admits to what it can no longer deny

By on May 4, 2015 in affairs, BND, Germany, NSA & Snowden, US

The German BND-NSA scandal seems to snowball. Focus is now shifting towards Chancellor Angela Merkel.

German Intelligence, BND — acting directly under the Chancellor Office — is accused for spying on European political and economical targets on behalf of the American surveillance authority NSA. Now the question is: What did Merkel know?

Chancellor Merkel is known for taking moral high ground when it turned out that she had been under NSA surveillance, stating that “you do not spy on your friends”. And now it turns out Germany did. (If we assume that e.g. France and the EU are Germanys “friends”.)

On top of all this, there are the (allegedly 12,000) cases where Germany did not assist the NSA. All documentation about these cases seems to have been deleted.

It seems that the German government and/or the Chancellor Office might have been missleasing the Reichstag (parliament). If so, the question is if the Reichstag can trust the highest political leaders of the country. This is a very serious question of confidence.

From another perspective, the BND/NSA affair underpins the notion that whatever politicians tell the people — the transatlantic intelligence cooperation continues unmoved.

The Local: Pressure on Merkel rises over BND affair »

/ HAX

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Dear Google…

By on May 2, 2015 in Cryptography, Google, Internet, Privacy

I appreciate Googles concerns when it comes to our online security. However, I think we might have a case of unintended consequences.

If you log on to your Google services from a new (or unknown) piece of hardware or from a new place, Google seems to block this attempt — often demanding that you change your password. I can see the logic behind that.

But if this happens often (and for some it does) it will lower the quality of the chosen new password. Having to figure out a new password/phrase (that you can remember) on the go simply doesn’t give you time to consider a strong and impregnable one.

Just sayin’.

/ HAX

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