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John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

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Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#31

Post by vonklaus »

dev1n wrote: post #6

We really need to set an age limit on how old people can get while staying in office before being forced to retire. We already prevent people younger than 40 from running for President. Why should we let people older than 65 do it? What's the difference?

No. This makes little sense, is arbitrary and absurd. We need people to be qualified by measurable factors like degrees, years working in a particular field, ability or intelligence and/or other relevant facts.

John McCain is a good man, I think he has good intentions, and is very qualified for certain positions. This is just not one of them, and it isn't because I disagree with him (I do), it is because he isn't qualified to make decisions about computer science or technology.

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#32

Post by stanleydrew »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #9
dev1n wrote: post #6

We really need to set an age limit on how old people can get while staying in office before being forced to retire. We already prevent people younger than 40 from running for President. Why should we let people older than 65 do it? What's the difference?

I upvoted you because I agree about the cognitive dissonance between having a lower limit but not having a higher one (as the old adage goes, don't tell me what's too little if you can't tell me what's considered too much), but I respectfully disagree. If one person is an idiot at 79, that does not mean that another cannot be well-informed and in-touch at the age of 85. Then there's the premise of your argument: that…

> If one person is an idiot at 79, that does not mean that another cannot be well-informed and in-touch at the age of 85.

If one person is an idiot at 35, that does not mean that another cannot be well-informed and in-touch at the age of 30

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#33

Post by SCAQTony »

This would be a suspension of the 4th and 5th amendment. Correct me if I am wrong.

"...A valid search warrant must meet four requirements: (1) the warrant must be filed in good faith by a law enforcement officer; (2) the warrant must be based on reliable information showing probable cause to search; (3) the warrant must be issued by a neutral and detached magistrate; and (4) the warrant must state specifically the place to be searched and the items to be seized..."

https://www.justia.com/criminal/docs/search-seizure-faq.html

This McCain B.S. implies that the defendant will never be served with a warrant. This secret warrant will be issued by eleven secret judges, serving a seven year term, picked by one man "...without any supplemental confirmation from the other two branches of government."

This does not meet the standards of being neutral per point number 3 above. WOW!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/17/politics/surveillance-court/

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#34

Post by datashovel »

serge2k wrote: post #24
gnoway wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Republicans" Rand Paul is pretty openly pro-encryption. Hillary Clinton is equivocating; I think she's probably anti-encryption. These may be exceptions that prove the rule but I think what we're really seeing is a combination of ignorance, pandering and authoritarianism across the spectrum.

>Hillary Clinton is equivocating; I think she's probably anti-encryption Damn, we need her on our side as a proven expert in computer security and privacy.

Or maybe try and find non-establishment candidates to run (who are not out of their gourd) and vote for them :)

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#35

Post by GavinMcG »

idibidiart wrote: post #27

John McCain is partly responsible for the rise of ISIS by having architected the funding of the Free Syrian Army whose members went off to form ISIS and who continues to be funded by us, with a great deal of the resources finding their way into ISIS hands.

I've seen this claim floating around that we're funding the FSA which is just channeling money to ISIS, but I haven't been able to find any reliable source. Could you please link to something that backs that up?

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#36

Post by ecdavis »

Is it really worth leaving a thoughtful comment about such an ignorant statement?

It's clear to me that these people have no idea what encryption actually is and only have a cursory understanding of what it does. They're aware that criminals and terrorists can use encryption to communicate covertly. That's why they want to ban it. Are they also aware that the exact same technology is used to protect their online banking? To protect against attacks like the Sony hack? Do they know that there is a huge segment of the economy that relies on strong encryption to do business?

It's pretty clear at this point that they don't care about privacy. Perhaps if the ramifications are explained to them in a different way they would be more open to dissenting points of view.

EDIT: The recent news stories have motivated me to renew my support for the EFF. I'd encourage anyone with disposable income to do the same.

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#37

Post by andrewchambers »

dogma1138 wrote: post #28
an_account wrote: post #4

I love how Republicans believe that outlawing guns won't stop criminals from having guns while at the same time believing that outlawing encryption will keep criminals from using encryption. Encryption methods are far easier to transport and spread illegally than gun are.

>Encryption methods are far easier to transport and spread illegally than gun are. I won't go that far, I would say that getting a Gun in the US or even in Europe (especially since the eastern European and Balkan states have joined (officially or unofficially Schengen) is by far easier than setting up your own secure crypto from scratch. This isn't an argument in favor of banning crypto, just a hard simple truth that…

> I would say that getting a Gun in the US or even in Europe (especially since the eastern European and Balkan states have joined (officially or unofficially Schengen) is by far easier than setting up your own secure crypto from scratch.

No, it is far easier to download an openbsd cd image from canada than it is to physically carry a gun.

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#38

Post by gnoway »

chrischen wrote: post #30
gnoway wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Republicans" Rand Paul is pretty openly pro-encryption. Hillary Clinton is equivocating; I think she's probably anti-encryption. These may be exceptions that prove the rule but I think what we're really seeing is a combination of ignorance, pandering and authoritarianism across the spectrum.

Isn't Rand Paul a libertarian?

Yes, except he's a member of the Republican Party, serving as Junior US Senator from Kentucky as a Republican, and running for the Republican Presidential nomination.

Edit: this was not meant to be snark, just an indication that, in the context of this particular thread/discussion, he's a Republican. The parent had a valid question, please stop downvoting him/her.

Re: John McCain wants to outlaw encryption that the US government can't crack

#40

Post by vezzy-fnord »

chrischen wrote: post #30
gnoway wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Republicans" Rand Paul is pretty openly pro-encryption. Hillary Clinton is equivocating; I think she's probably anti-encryption. These may be exceptions that prove the rule but I think what we're really seeing is a combination of ignorance, pandering and authoritarianism across the spectrum.

Isn't Rand Paul a libertarian?

Only if you considerably stretch the definition. He's a moderate Republican closer to old school states' rights conservatism than neoconservatism, but certainly not a libertarian, though he does exploit the label to make himself look edgy.
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