The Guardian runs this interesting piece…
Berlin’s digital exiles: where tech activists go to escape the NSA »
About Poitras, Appelbaum et al–and the Berlin hacktivist scene.
Archive | surveillance
Lawrence Lessig interviews Edward Snowden
The Swedish data retention drama
Following the European Court of Justice (ECJ) verdict revoking the EU directive on data retention, the issue is developing into some sort of dark farce in Sweden.
While several other EU member states, the lawyers at the EU Council and the EU Data Protection Group have declared that this is the death of blanket data retention–the Swedish government (both the former center-right government and the new social democrat-green one) is keen to continue to store data about all citizen’s all phone calls, text messages, e-mails, net connections and mobile positions.
After the ECJ ruling the responsible Swedish government authority, Post- och Telestyrelsen (PTS) announced that it would not go after telecom companies and internet service providers who wished to end storing the data in question.
And no surprise, most of these companies did.
At the next step, the then Swedish Minister of Justice said that she believed Swedish data retention not to be in breach with European human rights–even though it is a rather direct implementation of the EU directive. This was soon echoed by the incoming social democratic government spokespersons.
So, the issue was sent to a (very small) commission headed by a former national police commissioner. To the surprise of nobody, he presented preliminary findings saying that all is fine with Swedish blanket data retention. (This despite the ECJ:s objections about the “blanket” part of it.)
Before you knew it, PTS changed its position. Totally. Now they declared that it would uphold the Swedish data retention laws and that operators and ISP:s must continue to store data on all citizen’s all telecommunications.
Some did. Others, like Tele 2 didn’t, but was ordered to and finally complied. And one, privacy orientated Bahnhof (Swedens first ISP) refused completely.
At this point Bahnhof and the 5:th of July Foundation took the whole thing to the European Commission, complaining that Sweden doesn’t follow the relevant ECJ ruling and the European Human Rights Charter (that is part of the EU treaties). But yet, there are no indications about what the Commission is going to do about it.
Bahnhof also requested access to the PTS first assessment of the issue, the one leading to no action being taken against those who don’t store this data. That request lead to PTS trying to re-classify the assessment in a way so that it will not be covered by Sweden’s generous freedom of information laws. (This was done in a rather dubious way.) That issue is now developing to a drama in it self.
And now, also Bahnhof has been ordered by PTS to resume data retention. With one difference from the order handed over to e.g. Tele 2: In the Bahnhof case the order is attached with a threat of a fine of some 550.000 euros (five million Swedish kronor).
I guess this is the way you get treated when you stand up against the government.
But Bahnhof is still defiant and its CEO Jon Karlung has promised to present a “plan B” to protect its customers privacy.
This story is to be continued.
/ HAX
Study: Mass surveillance makes us less safe
Mass surveillance does not only violate peoples right to privacy. It is not very effective, when it comes to keeping us all safe.
And–old fashioned police work, that don’t infringe on privacy in the same way seems to be more usable and effective.
This is the conclusion from a European Union-funded multidisciplinary research study. »
That seems reasonable. And if this is the case, moving resources from traditional police and intelligence missions to computerized mass surveillance will make us all less safe.
As in so many other areas of society, the authorities in question (and their staff) attempt to avoid real, hard work. It is much more comfortable to sit behind a computer screen, speculating about sociograms and illusive patterns.
But this might not really be about national security and counter-terrorism. It may be about surveillance of the general population. In that case, mass surveillance makes more sense. And in that case it is much worse, from a civil rights point of view.
/ HAX
Mass surveillance is bad for business
The quote of the day comes from Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith at the Silicon Valley panel discussion on NSA surveillance, organized by Senator Ron Wyden (D – Oregon).
“If you’re a consumer or a company, you own your email, your text messages, your photos and all the content that you create. Even when you put your content in our data centers or on devices that we make, you still own it and you are entitled to the legal protection under our Constitution and our laws. We will not rebuild trust until our government recognizes that fundamental principle.”
Money talks. Mass surveillance erodes customers confidence in the tech industry. Business is lost when customers shy away from US Internet based services.
And it’s not just about business. Google’s Eric Schmidt warned about a fragmented, balkanized Internet. Wired sums it up…
“The cost will be huge in terms of shared knowledge, discoveries, and science. It will also be expensive, since the cost of running data centers in every country where they have customers may be too much for some firms to handle.”
The Civil Rights movement, Internet activists and the tech industry–now they all seems to stand together against US Government, its’ security bureaucracy and the security industry.
This might be the tipping point in our fight for a free and open Internet.
Some links: Wired » | CNet » | WP » | PC World » | The Register »
/ HAX
And now: Total Control
Indect is an EU funded program for surveillance. Or rather for control. Pre Crime style.
This is a program coordinating many different elements and procedures…
- CCTV and surveillance drones.
- Various data bases (e.g. information from data retention)
- Automated behaviour analysis.
- Analysis of citizens web activities.
- Mass surveillance NSA style.
And today, media reports suggest that the American FBI is ready to launch its new Facial Recognition System. (Links: 1» | 2» | 3»)
With such a technology finally in place Indect can take a significant step towards completion. And society will take yet another step towards a total control state.
Let’s hope that all our leaders–politicians and bureaucrats–are good, decent people. And that all those who will follow also are. Because if not, we have given people in high places a horrendous weapon against the people.
Read more about Indect here: Wikipedia» | Incect»
Or watch this video from Anonymous…
(Youtube»)
This is not Science Fiction. This is not conspiracy theories. It’s official. And it’s happening right now.
/ HAX
Swedish ISP forcing EU Commission to act on data retention
As you can see from the blog post below, the EU Commission is avoiding the data retention dispute. The European Court of Justice has declared it illegal and in breach with human rights. This is being ignored by some EU member states–such as the UK and Sweden–who have no intention of ending blanket data retention.
But now the Commission will have to get on top of this controversy. Today Swedish ISP Bahnhof and the 5 July-foundation have filed a formal complaint, urging the Commission to take measures to end Swedish data retention.
This will take matters to a new level. The European Commission is obliged to uphold the EU treaties. And as the Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits data retention (according to the ECJ)–there should be no alternative for the Commission, other than to act against member states not complying with this ban.
From the press release…
“We will fight in Swedish courts to the end but this is not about Bahnhof and our rights. It is about every citizen’s human rights. Bahnhof has always stood up for privacy of communications. We do not intend to retain traffic data about our customers and we are confident that we have the backing of the EU Charter and Court of Justice.”
Read the press release from Bahnhof and the 5 July-foundation here »
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United States of Secrets
This is a Must See!
The PBS two part documentary United States of Secrets will give you the background to NSA surveillance and the Snowden leaks.
The film shows how US politicians at the highest level knowingly violated the law and the constitution; how the NSA bullied and silenced whistleblowers; how the US IT- and telecoms community cooperates with the NSA – and how all of this lead to Edward Snowden becoming the most important whistleblower in history.
See it at: PBS Frontline »
Taking the NSA to court
From Arstechnica: For the first time a US Appeals Court has considered whether the “bulk telephony” database is constitutional.
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, takes the NSA to the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.
First US appeals court hears argument to shut down NSA database »
Anakata in court: Things to keep in mind
This week internationally renowned hacktivist Gottfrid Svartholm Warg–a.k.a. Anakata–will appear in court in Denmark, accused of breaking into the IT system of Computer Sciences Corporation, CSC.
GSW is known as one of the founders of The Pirate Bay. He hosted Wikileaks before the whistleblower site rose to fame–and is credited for his assistance with making the video Collateral Murder going viral and global. He is also a passionate defender of freedom of speech, with a libertarian background.
Since being extradited from Cambodia to Sweden, GSW has been serving prison time for his work with The Pirate Bay and some hacking related charges. However, a Swedish high court has cleared him in a case of hacking where the circumstances are just about the same as in the Danish case. (Jacob Appelbaum gave witness for the defence.)
As the media tends to copypaste prosecutors press releases, here is some additional information worth keeping in mind…
- It is claimed that GSW computer was “remotely controlled”. For most people this might sound odd. However it seems that it’s all about a lab server, open for other people. Put in this way, this claim seems much more understandable and plausible.
- As I mentioned, the evidence is essentially the same as in a case where GSW was cleared by one of the Swedish high courts. (It’s the same computer…)
- When it comes to CSC, it is no ordinary tech company. For instance they are managing the IT system for the US spy and surveillance organisation NSA.
- CSC is also being accused by human rights organisations for providing airplanes used by the CIA for secret flights, connected to the extraordinary renditions program.
I have no idea what Gottfrid Svartholm Warg might have done or not done. Or any possible intentions. But I don’t like the look of this case…
/ HAX
Update: The Local – Pirate Bay Swede’s trial set for final stage »
Update 2, Sept. 2nd: Pirate Bay founder case starts in confusion »
Update 3, Sept. 8th: Gottfrid Svartholm Trial Starts & Ends Week in Controversy »