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Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

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Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#101

A lot of comments in this thread area calling for the head of Verizon and recommending boycotts, but for how much of this is Verizon really at fault? If the NSA comes knocking and tells you to turn over X, you can't exactly say "no", can you? More to the point, it's highly unlikely that this is an issue unique to Verizon; it's just the only one we've heard about so far.

So let us boycott the government! Oh wait, unlike Verizon, the government will lock you up for doing that.

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#102

Dutch person here with a little insight what's to come for you guys. Some information about our tiny little country (in Wester Europe, very pro-US) with just 17 million people. Our government listens in on more calls every year than in the whole of the US combined. All our telecommunications providers are forced to have the capability to intercept all traffic (phone and internet). Encrypted data must be stored for an…

Fellow Dutchman here, and I couldn't agree more. I actually helped building the electronic patient file in two major hospitals, and I can't tell you enough about the massive clusterfuck that is. The government requires you to finish it before a certain date, only they provide you with the exact requirements after that date. Basic security measures like encrypting data? No way! To me, America is still the land of the…

Agreed. Imagine voting for you own major, sheriff, congressman and president! (This is no joke people, we can't. They're appointed from within their own ranks. We can vote for a specific party-leader and hope they win. But the always end up creating a coalition with 2 or 33 other party's and needing to compromise).

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#103
post #80

A lot of comments in this thread area calling for the head of Verizon and recommending boycotts, but for how much of this is Verizon really at fault? If the NSA comes knocking and tells you to turn over X, you can't exactly say "no", can you? More to the point, it's highly unlikely that this is an issue unique to Verizon; it's just the only one we've heard about so far.

On the other hand, if you boycott Verizon to the point when (for an example's sake) they are broke, the next business the NSA comes knocking at the door will definitely be more reluctant. If you can get into the businessman's head that the NSA is bad for business, they'll have a bad time pulling this kind of thing off.

The trouble is, that's easier said than done. However, if there were any action feasible enough to do that would make it possible to: "get into the businessman's head that the NSA is bad for business." Then that will definitely be the way to go.

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#104

A lot of comments in this thread area calling for the head of Verizon and recommending boycotts, but for how much of this is Verizon really at fault? If the NSA comes knocking and tells you to turn over X, you can't exactly say "no", can you? More to the point, it's highly unlikely that this is an issue unique to Verizon; it's just the only one we've heard about so far.

So roll over and take it like a champ? If everyone thought this way, there would have been no revolution. At some point, enough is enough and I say that that point is way past.

Well, if enough people say "enough is enough"... what next.

My mobile device is tied to my phone, I have some work discounts attached to my service, I have a contract (which will gain fees for early termination). These issues make it highly improbably to truly do any action (when it comes to businesses).

However, there is a way politically to actually get something done, but that requires the masses to actually organize and take action.

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#105

Dutch person here with a little insight what's to come for you guys. Some information about our tiny little country (in Wester Europe, very pro-US) with just 17 million people. Our government listens in on more calls every year than in the whole of the US combined. All our telecommunications providers are forced to have the capability to intercept all traffic (phone and internet). Encrypted data must be stored for an…

> You can purchase one without your name and address but you can only add money to it using your bank-account. The system tracks all travelers' movements (departure and end points for each leg of every journey), in most cases combined with the traveler's identity. It retains the data for seven years

Not to discredit your whole post but is this really the case. You can buy those 1 hour/24 hour/48 hour passes for cash. With a 1 hour one you aren't exactly required to check out if you don't use it again (on tram at least).

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#106
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is precisely the type of attitude we should all have as hackers. It's easy to sit back and say "oh government this or corporation that sucks", we need to step up our game as builders of the software sitting on millions of devices. This is a privacy arms race -- and right now we're losing.

Who are the developers who go work on these projects for the government? I feel like this is some cutting edge technology they create, so they have to be some of the best, right? Is the money that good or is there an allure to having a security clearance.

I guess the money is that good.

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#107
OpenPGP and similar strong encryption methods are widely considered unbreakable (with the current technology) and available as easy-to-use software packages. Is there any similar software which enables easy encrypted VoIP-style calls?

So if you want to keep a secret from the government, why bother to use non-safe communication methods (public telephone network etc) at all? Aren't people who actually pose a threat to the society smart enough to use such tools?

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#108

Dutch person here with a little insight what's to come for you guys. Some information about our tiny little country (in Wester Europe, very pro-US) with just 17 million people. Our government listens in on more calls every year than in the whole of the US combined. All our telecommunications providers are forced to have the capability to intercept all traffic (phone and internet). Encrypted data must be stored for an…

"You can purchase one without your name and address but you can only add money to it using your bank-account"

I used to live in Amsterdam and I clearly remember that it was possible to top up with cash, has this changed? (only some machines in some stations got this cash option though, maybe all gone now)

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#109
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So roll over and take it like a champ? If everyone thought this way, there would have been no revolution. At some point, enough is enough and I say that that point is way past.

You reckon people are going to revolt? I have serious doubts about that.

Only when the social contract is violated will there be revolt. That contract, roughly 75 years old now, is currently on death notice, being funded solely by a printing press. Simply put, the promises can never be met.

If interest rates on US debt were just a mere 5% (reasonable given the risk), the $800+ billion per year in interest would instantly 'bankrupt' the government (whether that default occurs directly or via inflation). If one understands much about economics, one understands this outcome is inevitable, and likely sooner than later. Cheap debt binged and not repaid, becomes an expensive anchor around the neck eventually.

Re: Confirmed: The NSA is Spying on Millions of Americans

#110
post #80

A lot of comments in this thread area calling for the head of Verizon and recommending boycotts, but for how much of this is Verizon really at fault? If the NSA comes knocking and tells you to turn over X, you can't exactly say "no", can you? More to the point, it's highly unlikely that this is an issue unique to Verizon; it's just the only one we've heard about so far.

On the other hand, if you boycott Verizon to the point when (for an example's sake) they are broke, the next business the NSA comes knocking at the door will definitely be more reluctant. If you can get into the businessman's head that the NSA is bad for business, they'll have a bad time pulling this kind of thing off.

Because we all know the NSA are a nice friendly bunch who will only be applying pressure at a corporate level and won't apply any pressure at all on a personal level to any of the key individuals in control of the company.
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