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Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

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Re: Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

#61
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody said they have access to Google servers. We are worried about what data google to sending them (by whatever means).

That is not PRISM though, PRISM is about the existence of backdoors that allow direct access to company servers.

[deleted]

Re: Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

#62
I don't understand - was it not obvious from the get go?

The PPS lists various types of data the NSA gets from various companies. For some reason most commenters here chose to interpret this to mean the NSA has a direct pipe feeding it all of these companies data. The fact the PPS mentions it's a $20m program should inform that this is obviously not the case. Is it just a matter of wanting to believe the more outrageous version?

Re: Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

#64
post #2

I don't know who to believe anymore...

Occam's Razor is still good. Likewise for Hanlan's Razor (remember that Greenwald and WaPo both are drawing fairly specific conclusions from a couple of slides that are using jargon and not plain English).

Re: Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

#65
The NSA does not need direct access to the servers to monitor activity.

Strategically placed traffic monitoring at major ISPs is enough to build a pretty complete picture. I can imagine SSL traffic doesn't even pose much of a hurdle to a well funded project. You don't need the data in real time.

Re: Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

#67
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I read your previous excerpt and I've read this very post here before. Repeating it over and over (this is your 3rd post so far posting this link) doesn't make me believe it any more strongly.

The point of posting it multiple times is to make an attempt at unwinding some of the damage done by countless misreports.

Assuming you are qualified at making such a judgement, or even more qualified than any who have differing interpretations.

Re: Eric Schmidt: CNET gets it right on the NSA/Google issue

#70
post #37
post #34

From Glenn Greenwald's twitter, https://twitter.com/ggreenwald : Allow me to quote from the NSA document we just published defining PRISM: "COLLECTION DIRECTLY FROM THE SERVERS" Our story was written *from the start* to say NSA claimed this, telecoms deny-we wanted them to have to work it out *in public* what they do We reported - accurately - what the NSA claims. We reported - accurately - what the companies claim.…

"We reported - wrongly - what was actually happening in the real world." The lede on Greenwald's story: The National Security Agency has obtained direct access to the systems of Google, Facebook, Apple and other US internet giants, according to a top secret document obtained by the Guardian. Then, just 1 graf later: The Guardian has verified the authenticity of the document [...] Later: The NSA access was enabled by…

Forgive me, but I'm thoroughly confused. What objection is brought up here to Greenwald's work? That he's using the noun "program" instead of the noun "document" when discussing the program that the document entails? That Greenwald's tone is not sufficiently interrogative and peppered with "claims" and "alleges" and "supposes"?

There's no substantive difference between "It was followed by Yahoo in 2008" and "The document claims it was followed by Yahoo in 2008." The furor of the past 72 hours has given no reason to question the document's authenticity nor the existence of the program the document entails. The president himself has alluded to the existence of the PRISM program and attempted to assure us all that it was only to keep an eye on foreigners and not citizens.

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