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GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

theguardian.com

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Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#161

Post by computer »

acqq wrote: post #124

From one of the comments there: "if someone (...) could explain why the line has always been "the metadata" when it is obvious that mass interception of content has always been part of the equation i would be grateful. i would also be grateful if from now on every article relating to the NSA scandal will mention that fact that there is bulk collection of content. i would also be grateful if from now on every time a p…

Let me take a stab at creative government-speak:

No, this is also metadata. They are only taking a screenshot every few minutes, with as aim to get a clear picture of the face of the person operating the computer. Just like an email header contains a From-address in the content that's metadata, a webcam session contains the same metadata in the form of these screenshots of people's faces.

They're not collecting the data, i.e. the moving webcam video + voice. They have no idea what's being said. Just metadata.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#162

Post by poulson »

StefanKarpinski wrote: post #19

This really isn't any worse than the other invasions of privacy that have been revealed – but it's much easier to point at it as an egregious and visceral violation of privacy. Even though webcam stills may be the least important (or useful) spying the US and UK have been doing, this may be some of the best fodder for arguments to limit such activities. So thank you, UK, for being so dumb.

I think that this leak will have the biggest effect. It bothered me enough that I emailed the entire college of computing at my university (I am a junior faculty member) to argue for setting ethical boundaries for big data projects, but, alas, I doubt that I will get a response.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#163

Post by mnordhoff »

codezero wrote: post #150

This seems to add to my suspicion that the NSA broke or infiltrated XMPP.

Secure XMPP communications just run over SSL, yeah? There was a report last year that XMPP software often configures SSL really badly. It's been said that NSA largely takes advantage of implementation bugs, not mathematical breakthroughs; the XMPP ecosystem sure gives them the opportunity.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6344972

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#164

Post by josephlord »

Lagged2Death wrote: post #54

ISTR that in the futuristic dystopia depicted in V for Vendetta , there are government spy cameras everywhere, including in people's bedrooms. And it turns out that's not so futuristic. We're already there. The moment it became technically (Edit: and really, economically) feasible to spy on people's bedrooms, our governments leapt at the chance. I wonder what Alan Moore would have to say about that. We didn't have to…

Well there is also 1984 written in 1948 where there were cameras in every room and most outside places too.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#165

Post by Loughla »

tzakrajs wrote: post #96
samstave wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd wager that this is one reason homosexuality has been held as taboo for so long: it can be weaponized against your enemies for leverage and power.

I'll cite a source for you: "If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)

Not to get too far afield from the original post, or to start a religious debate where we end up calling each other Hitler, but I've got some good stuff for you:

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)

"If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death." (Leviticus 20:10 NIV)

"As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you." (Leviticus 25:44 ESV)

So, um, not a great book to pull random quotes from as a source.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#166

Post by waterlesscloud »

StefanKarpinski wrote: post #43
davepage wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, because for political purposes, a compromising photo has far better blackmail value than other data.

But you can't use that blackmail tool without revealing that you were spying illegally. Revealing that would be worse for the blackmailer than the blackmailee.

Sure you can.

'Hackers Release Photo Of Prime Minister And Mistress'

Done.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#167

Post by neuralk »

cryoshon wrote: post #151
line-zero wrote: post #10

So when are we going to make them stop doing things like this? Why haven't we already??

How do you propose? Political action has been ineffective so far.

Has there been any political action in the UK yet? I'm American and hadn't heard of any British politicians speaking out against GCHQ.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#169

Post by coldtea »

wavefunction wrote: post #160
tzakrajs wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll cite a source for you: "If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)

Jesus' ministry replaced all previous commandments. Something Christians have forgotten and an agnostic has to constantly remind them of.

That.

As an atheist from an "orthodox Christian" background (as opposed to protestant, baptist or the catholic church), I cannot really understand why people who call themselves Christians even quote the Bible, and seemingly only awful anachronistic parts, as opposed to the New Tastement.

Perhaps they should call themselves "Mosians"?

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#170

Post by mcphilip »

sequoia wrote: post #129

Wait a sec- is Yahoo Messenger video chat a common means of communication between terrorists? "Sidney, get on yahoo we have to discuss the subway bombing. Alright. Is your webcam on? Come on we have to use the webcams- so much communication is nonverbal! I just read this story on time.com about the importance of face to face communication- it was really fascinat-- what? Oh alright back to the bombing. But first turn…

Well obviously "terrorists" hold up flash cards to their webcam containing all the insidious plots and plans in written form! And think of the children? "Terrorist" probably also routinely show each other child porn!!!

Seriously though, is there any channel of communication that the spooks won't illegally snoop on?

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