Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think most people are just too lazy/paranoid to sign petitions. Tech or not.
Petitions don't do anything. I donate to the EFF and Demand Progress instead.
True, I donate to the EFF though not Demand Progress(yet)
Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
21–30 of 78 posts
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#22Deceptive title, unintentionally. FTA: "Instead, the Post reports, the “administration will continue trying to persuade companies that have moved to encrypt their customers’ data to create a way for the government to still peer into people’s data when needed for criminal or terrorism investigations.” While eschewing attempts to legislatively mandate that tech companies build backdoors into their services, the preside…
Agreed, but it's still a massive improvement over mandating that all encryption used by citizens be thoroughly crippled. The status quo should be that the degree to which Government can intrude into citizens privacy is limited by law and subject to open public debate. We're not quite there yet, either in the US or here in the UK, but dropping the idea of crippled encryption is at least a step back from the brink even…
I think threatening to ban all secure communication in a psychotic unrealistic policy position and having important "serious" people like the director of the FBI push for it isn't really intended to get it codified into law, rather to elicit responses like yours -- it's designed to massively push the Overton window against privacy so that we can feel okay about how bad things currently are -- at least the insane unrealistic threats that were thrown around weren't followed through.
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#23Deceptive title, unintentionally. FTA: "Instead, the Post reports, the “administration will continue trying to persuade companies that have moved to encrypt their customers’ data to create a way for the government to still peer into people’s data when needed for criminal or terrorism investigations.” While eschewing attempts to legislatively mandate that tech companies build backdoors into their services, the preside…
We've agreed as a country that the ability to get a warrant in the case of probable cause is a good thing. How is this not just maintaining that? I find it hilarious how often privacy advocates manage to forget that we've had this conversation before, and while the government can and has overstepped in many ways, lets not throw out the ability to investigate at all along the way.
Because breaking encryption breaks it for everyone. If the cops can get your data, so can a hacker. There is simply no way to compromise. You either are encrypted, in which case nobody but you can decrypt your data, or you're not encrypted at all.
Remember the "TSA locks" we're all required to use on our luggage at the airport? Nobody but the government was supposed to be able to unlock them. But now anyone who wants to ruffle through your luggage can get universal keys for all TSA locks. What happens when that same scenario plays out with your bank account, your company emails, or any online store you've made purchases from?
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#24Deceptive title, unintentionally. FTA: "Instead, the Post reports, the “administration will continue trying to persuade companies that have moved to encrypt their customers’ data to create a way for the government to still peer into people’s data when needed for criminal or terrorism investigations.” While eschewing attempts to legislatively mandate that tech companies build backdoors into their services, the preside…
Agreed, but it's still a massive improvement over mandating that all encryption used by citizens be thoroughly crippled. The status quo should be that the degree to which Government can intrude into citizens privacy is limited by law and subject to open public debate. We're not quite there yet, either in the US or here in the UK, but dropping the idea of crippled encryption is at least a step back from the brink even…
My thoughts mirror @wfo's, but more simplistically. It is a negotiation tactic. When seller A wants to sell something for $20, it is initially offered for $30. When buyer B's $25 counter offer is accepted, B is pleased with the result because they've purchased the item under asking price, while A is pleased for having sold at a premium.
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#25Deceptive title, unintentionally. FTA: "Instead, the Post reports, the “administration will continue trying to persuade companies that have moved to encrypt their customers’ data to create a way for the government to still peer into people’s data when needed for criminal or terrorism investigations.” While eschewing attempts to legislatively mandate that tech companies build backdoors into their services, the preside…
We've agreed as a country that the ability to get a warrant in the case of probable cause is a good thing. How is this not just maintaining that? I find it hilarious how often privacy advocates manage to forget that we've had this conversation before, and while the government can and has overstepped in many ways, lets not throw out the ability to investigate at all along the way.
Sure, but there are many avenues of investigation that were previously available to law enforcement and still are. The question in my mind is does having effectively unbreakable ways to store data do more harm than good? I think it does more good. There are still tons of options available to law enforcement that worked in the past to catch criminals. The sheer quantity of data that is stored about each one of us opens up a lot of potential for harm (which has been massively abused). What we're talking about is simply a return to the state where if you want to gather data about a person you have to mostly start at the point when they become a real suspect not before.
You also can't get a warrant to peer into the other unbreakable data store - a suspect's mind. If there were such a technology would it be ok for it to be warrantable or should some things just actually be private?
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Government basically exists to maintain the status quo. Anyone who might really change anything really won't get far enough in order to. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Wouldn't it be good to have hope, and expect change? Our government, our country, our people can change, for the better, or for the worse. I'm sad that you think the status quo can't be changed. It can and should be.
And it is. How is it in the interest of TPTB to have weed legalized? Yet it is happening.
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#27Deceptive title, unintentionally. FTA: "Instead, the Post reports, the “administration will continue trying to persuade companies that have moved to encrypt their customers’ data to create a way for the government to still peer into people’s data when needed for criminal or terrorism investigations.” While eschewing attempts to legislatively mandate that tech companies build backdoors into their services, the preside…
We've agreed as a country that the ability to get a warrant in the case of probable cause is a good thing. How is this not just maintaining that? I find it hilarious how often privacy advocates manage to forget that we've had this conversation before, and while the government can and has overstepped in many ways, lets not throw out the ability to investigate at all along the way.
Crypto is all or nothing. You can't have "backdoors" into crypto algorithms that are secret only to the government. It is literally impossible. Someone will find those backdoors, and now all information that has been encrypted is wide open. So you are either advocating for the complete destruction of ecommerce and online privacy, or you are advocating for unfettered access to cryptography software. Which do you choose?
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#28Deceptive title, unintentionally. FTA: "Instead, the Post reports, the “administration will continue trying to persuade companies that have moved to encrypt their customers’ data to create a way for the government to still peer into people’s data when needed for criminal or terrorism investigations.” While eschewing attempts to legislatively mandate that tech companies build backdoors into their services, the preside…
We've agreed as a country that the ability to get a warrant in the case of probable cause is a good thing. How is this not just maintaining that? I find it hilarious how often privacy advocates manage to forget that we've had this conversation before, and while the government can and has overstepped in many ways, lets not throw out the ability to investigate at all along the way.
I'd say: first throw out the ability for NSA to spy without letting the persons concerned speak about it. Then we can talk about 'warrants in the case of probable cause'. US as a country has lost a lot of goodwill and trust.
And don't forget:
- number of deaths from acts of domestic terrorism: 36
- number of deaths–homicide, suicide, and accidental–caused by firearms: 316,545
(in a decade, link: http://magazine.good.is/articles/president-obama-gun-deaths-...)
It's hilarious how some people forget what really counts (as in pain and sorrow) and where the priorities should be.
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#29I am surprised the petition has yet to reach 100k signatures. Is it optimistic to think that most of the tech community at least should recognize the significance of this? Even if you doubt its effect on real policy.
I'm not. Who has time to fully comprehend (and act upon) this? Especially when we're already working >50h a week to maintain household status quo. It's hard to focus on the state of society's infrastructure when I'm spending every waking moment working to maintain my own. Yes, I know what is at stake, but one avenue is a long burn and the other is a short fuse. I'll tackle the more pressing issue first. Disclosure: I…
This is my reaction whenever I hear someone suggest that "we should be rioting in the streets." I have daily personal struggles and work that I'm trying to pin down every day with all my energy. And my remaining time/energy go into finding a mate if I even have any at all.
Re: Obama Encryption Policy Rejects Laws Mandating Backdoors
#30Why does the Apple one get special kudos? They just say they "don't allow government access to their SERVERS" - they never say anything about the data.