Earlier quoted context omitted.
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the current regime has shown hostility to keeping europe peaceful, what do you want?
How so? By asking Europe to pay for the defense of Europe?
US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
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Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#62Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
However, the fact that companies sell offensive cyber warfare software to governments is not new, and that specific company isn't either. There's also nothing inherently wrong with selling intelligence tools to a western government, Italy is not Iran or Zambia. And fighting terror or crime using software is valid. The only thing that surprises me is that a western government might attack journalists, and what I'd lik…
Their motivation is they are fascists. Like not in an “anything I don’t like is fascism” kinda way - literal fascists. If you’d like to know more about them, an article in the AP isn’t the right place to find more. But it is a good way to let people know what the US is funding in the world.
What's your definition of fascist and what is your argument that Meloni's party is fascist?
I'm not arguing or disagreeing with you -- genuinely curious about your perspective.
The most damning bit in her Wikipedia article is this: "In 1992 Meloni joined the Youth Front, the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a neo-fascist political party founded in 1946 by followers of Italian fascism. She later became the national leader of Student Action, the student movement of the National Alliance (AN), a post-fascist party that became the MSI's legal successor in 1995 and moved towards national conservatism."
But that does not necessarily mean she is herself a fascist, but rather that she was a member of various organizations that were originally founded by fascists then later moderated (roughly similar to the French FN/RN).
On the other hand, lots of people you could fairly describe as fascist or far-right claim to not be so, so it's possible she genuinely is and the moderate turn of these parties is a sham. As someone who doesn't follow Italian politics I have no way of knowing which is the case.
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
Headlines are written by the publisher not the author. They’re written to maximize readership. The fact that spying happened in italy by italians is mostly only interesting to italians. The fact that the US backs an israeli company that sells spying tools is interesting to many more people. You can see the selling clicks, but because they’re not twisting the truth or saying something misleading - in this case I mostl…
However, the fact that companies sell offensive cyber warfare software to governments is not new, and that specific company isn't either. There's also nothing inherently wrong with selling intelligence tools to a western government, Italy is not Iran or Zambia. And fighting terror or crime using software is valid. The only thing that surprises me is that a western government might attack journalists, and what I'd lik…
> However, the fact that companies sell offensive cyber warfare software to governments is not new
Good thing the story is not about the companies or governments, but the journalists.
The "this is not new" / "everyone knew about this" middlebrow dismissal adds nothing to any conversation, and falsely equates all hacking incidents, but the real story is about the clients, their motivations and the victims who are always different.
> I'd like to know from this article was what was their motivation
Wouldn't we all? Meloni's office had no comment, but the article gave enough breadcrumbs about the reporting of the victims that one can make an educated guess.
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
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Goodness me where oh where could that anti US bias come from? Couldn't be the illegal bombing of Cambodia and Laos during the Vietnam War, couldn't be arming the Guatamalans who carried out the silent Holocaust, couldn't be arming the Turks while they were slaughtering Kurds, couldn't be the illegal invasion of Iraq, killing up to a million people, and torturing others without due process, ultimately leading to viole…
All of that was for freedoms though /s
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#66Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think by them being Italian (hint) he meant 'fascist' in quite literal sense.
Hmm, you seem to be implying Italians are more likely to be considered fascists than are Americans. Is that because of the historical connection to Mussolini?
It's because the descendants of original fascists are currently ruling Italy. Including Alessandra Mussolini (AKA Benito Mussolini's granddaughter), who's not in the same party as Meloni, but is in coalition with Meloni's party.
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
the current regime has shown hostility to keeping europe peaceful, what do you want?
How so? By asking Europe to pay for the defense of Europe?
Also by floating proposals that the Danish and British cede their stewardship of Greenland and Canada to the USA.
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#68How does the exploit work, though? The article does some real handwaving around "now the device is yours and now it's not". They don't need to go too deep but isn't anyone reading that far into the article going to be curious?
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#69It's amazing that US and Israel are the only countries mentioned in the headline While the story itself is about Italy spying on a journalist in another EU country But I guess news sites needs them clicks
Headlines are written by the publisher not the author. They’re written to maximize readership. The fact that spying happened in italy by italians is mostly only interesting to italians. The fact that the US backs an israeli company that sells spying tools is interesting to many more people. You can see the selling clicks, but because they’re not twisting the truth or saying something misleading - in this case I mostl…
TFA says that this story is relevant for USA because there exists an executive order which "prohibits federal government departments and agencies from acquiring commercial spyware that has been misused by foreign governments" and at this moment there are contracts between Paragon and DHS and other US government institutions.
So, in theory, these contracts with Paragon should be canceled, unless Trump decides to repeal that executive order, because it is a remnant of the previous administration.
Re: US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most of the time the country of the creator is named if it’s about spyware. The misuse of such tools outweighs the legitimate use cases, so people want to know who is so reckless to sell these programs
I don't understand what's the difference if Italy develops its own or buys it from somewhere else. Comparably, phone tapping equipment is being sold world wide for almost a century and is used similarly The fact that some countries that gets these tools starts listening to journalists is concerning, but at least I want to believe it happens less in functioning countries But I don't see any issue with taking remote co…
a functioning country can become dysfunctional with one election