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Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

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41–50 of 209 posts

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#41

>Are you "hiding" when you lock the door of your home every day, just because the government is not permitted to enter it without a warrant If this is your reason then I would say you are trying to hide. >Is it "hiding" to seal the envelope of the card you're sending your Valentine? Yes, the point is to keep it a surprise. >helps protect queer youth from intolerant violence (at home and abroad, as in Ghana). E2EE doe…

> Most parents aren't technical and wouldn't even know how to MITM even an unencrypted messaging app.

Give it a couple of weeks and someone will have put together surveillance and parental control system for it.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#42
Throw away account (does not do much good with modern AI and ML). But here goes.

I am a US citizen (never left the country) and I always vote Republican. Down-vote away!

The FBI came to my house in October 2021. Two special agents (one of which I knew from prior IT Security engagements) and a 'Threat Assessment' Police Officer from the local police department.

They asked me if I was an Islamic extremist/terrorist. I am not. I am not religious at all. I am an IT security practitioner and amateur cryptographer.

I once used Tor for remote network security assessments and to maintain my privacy. I ran Tor hidden services (as experiments) and posted code showing best practices on how to do this without revealing the clear-net IP address. I no longer do this. I believe that is one reason I was targeted.

I have written one-time pad software and other cryptographic tools that may be used to evade IP/Cellular network meta-data analysis and tracking. I believe this is another reason I was targeted.

The agents told me that I was considered a threat and an extremist because someone had used my home network to search for Islamic extremist videos. I have not done this. And, to my knowledge, none of my family members have done this either.

I am not sure why this happened. I may never know. But I do know that true end to end encryption is critical to maintaining our security and privacy (assuming end devices are not compromised already). That is a big assumption IMPO.

Now, I also encourage people to not use Tor. I feel it is backed-doored and mostly controlled by Nation State actors to identify 'interesting' subjects via meta-data analysis alone.

That's my story. I hope you all do well.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#43

Devil's advocate: encryption is also what's stopping users with locked-down devices (increasingly common and hard to avoid) from having freedom to run and/or modify the software they use. It's a tough situation. Encryption can be used for good or bad (and even the definition of what's "good" or "bad" encryption varies depending on who you ask). Unfortunately, I see it increasingly being used to oppress users, in the…

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Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#44
post #20

I feel like they missed the primary point which is that E2E encryption is the primary thing protecting everyone from hackers/criminals/other-governments. Without it the criminals WILL have access to your systems and data and then you can basically say goodbye to anything being valuable at all. Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor. A criminal can literally infiltrate and search through every unsecured compute…

>Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor.

It is a poor metaphor because locks prevent invasion not enable privacy.

Banning encryption is such an attack on privacy that it's closer to banning clothes and easing concerns by making looking at naked people illegal.

Encryption is the fundamental unit of network privacy.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#45
post #20

I feel like they missed the primary point which is that E2E encryption is the primary thing protecting everyone from hackers/criminals/other-governments. Without it the criminals WILL have access to your systems and data and then you can basically say goodbye to anything being valuable at all. Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor. A criminal can literally infiltrate and search through every unsecured compute…

Our security doesn't matter to them, the only security they value is their security from the rest of us. This bill grants them just that.

Which is strange because our security is their security. If we don't have security then we are more vulnerable to foreign influences. We are more vulnerable to foreign attacks. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Either everyone has security or no one does, including politicians and elites.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#46

Devil's advocate: encryption is also what's stopping users with locked-down devices (increasingly common and hard to avoid) from having freedom to run and/or modify the software they use. It's a tough situation. Encryption can be used for good or bad (and even the definition of what's "good" or "bad" encryption varies depending on who you ask). Unfortunately, I see it increasingly being used to oppress users, in the…

I'd imagine that companies would get licenses to use encryption in limited and restricted circumstances, such as for DRM or basic system security. The user won't be able to use strong encryption, but only backdoored or weak encryption to keep the average attacker out.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#47
post #22

I'm not even a US/UK/EU citizen. Is there any way I can contribute? Or do I just sit and watch the world burn as policymakers elsewhere indirectly make policies that might inadvertently affect people far far away as well?

There are groups that are trying to counter it that you can donate to and/or work with. The media, including social media, likes "This person from ____ is worried about how ____ will impact Americans and the rest of the world" narratives, if you feel like writing or reaching out to journalists that report on these topics.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#48
post #20

I feel like they missed the primary point which is that E2E encryption is the primary thing protecting everyone from hackers/criminals/other-governments. Without it the criminals WILL have access to your systems and data and then you can basically say goodbye to anything being valuable at all. Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor. A criminal can literally infiltrate and search through every unsecured compute…

>Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor. It is a poor metaphor because locks prevent invasion not enable privacy. Banning encryption is such an attack on privacy that it's closer to banning clothes and easing concerns by making looking at naked people illegal. Encryption is the fundamental unit of network privacy.

If you want to stick with the house metaphor, then curtains, blinds, fences and doors would fit the comparison.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#49
post #20

I feel like they missed the primary point which is that E2E encryption is the primary thing protecting everyone from hackers/criminals/other-governments. Without it the criminals WILL have access to your systems and data and then you can basically say goodbye to anything being valuable at all. Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor. A criminal can literally infiltrate and search through every unsecured compute…

Our security doesn't matter to them, the only security they value is their security from the rest of us. This bill grants them just that.

Completely agree. Encryption is subversive. It has the power to defeat governments, judges, armies. They can't tolerate mere citizens being in possession of such technology. They are tempted by the complete visibility and control afforded by the digital world of the 21st century, but encryption is already denying them information and they can't stand it.

Re: Earn-IT threatens encryption and therefore user freedom

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Locking your door at night is a poor metaphor. It is a poor metaphor because locks prevent invasion not enable privacy. Banning encryption is such an attack on privacy that it's closer to banning clothes and easing concerns by making looking at naked people illegal. Encryption is the fundamental unit of network privacy.

If you want to stick with the house metaphor, then curtains, blinds, fences and doors would fit the comparison.

I considered writing that it's more like building your house out of glass.

The important point I'm trying to convey is that banning encryption is so extreme that it makes invasion of privacy something that someone can accidentally do. You have to try not to look, similar to if a person was nude in front of you against their will.

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