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How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

theintercept.com

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Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#41

Post by rickdale »

otalp wrote: post #33
angry-hacker wrote: post #17

What about ex president Obama who actually used the tech? So much outrage for Thiel, but where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? Ps. I think Thiel is a hypocrite if he really thinks himself as libertarian. Also, despite having money and power I think he has big balls to go against SV where he made himself. I also don't understand how did he became so powerful, every time he talks.. He has charisma of…

There were numerous pieces on The Guardian, Intercept, NYT and Vox decrying Obama's mass surveillance as a huge blot on his administration and his biggest stain alongside illegal drone strikes. It was literally one of the biggest reasons people aside from Republicans disliked his tenure. There were a ton of protests against mass surveillance around the time of the whole Snowden fiasco, and even the Oscars recognized…

Exactly. It really reminds me of the boy who cried wolf. Republicans made a point to question Obama's faith and whether he is a secret muslim or if he was born here. Meanwhile abhorrent policies are being enacted, but we did get the birth certificate. In the sense of using a distraction to further another agenda I feel like Obama and Trump are the best of the best.

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#42

Post by foldr »

krath94 wrote: post #39
Dagwoodie wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He voted for a Republican .

It's sad that people generalize about people that vote Republican. Most republicans (or people that vote republican) I have met, including myself, have been supportive of the LGBT community. Not ALL Republicans are against LGBT, just like not all liberals want free government handouts. These generalizations about the "other side" are counter-productive. Also, I'm not saying you came across as generalizing, I know you…

All of the Republican nominees this time around were opposed to gay marriage. So it doesn't seem to be that unfair to generalize to the conclusion that Republicans aren't very concerned about LGBT rights. They're certainly willing to vote for candidates who don't support LGBT rights.

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#43

Post by jikachu2 »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #25
lightbyte wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

American libertarianism is about excluding the government from as much as you possibly can. Mass surveillance of a states citizens if practically the antithesis of that.

I never understood the mentality that unchecked power is only unacceptable when wielded by a government. For example, it's wrong for the government to surveil all its citizens but fine for a private company to do so, even if the end result makes life just as untenable (e.g. unable to get a job/housing because of credit checks, get access to healthcare because of pre-existing conditions). Given the trajectory of Ameri…

The government asserts its authority over you whether you like it or not. Any association with a private company is voluntary in nature. You can choose not to use that company and take your business to a competitor. It's not that it is necessarily "fine for a private company to do so," just that you have the ability to opt out.

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#44

Post by mattnewton »

rickdale wrote: post #41
otalp wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There were numerous pieces on The Guardian, Intercept, NYT and Vox decrying Obama's mass surveillance as a huge blot on his administration and his biggest stain alongside illegal drone strikes. It was literally one of the biggest reasons people aside from Republicans disliked his tenure. There were a ton of protests against mass surveillance around the time of the whole Snowden fiasco, and even the Oscars recognized…

Exactly. It really reminds me of the boy who cried wolf. Republicans made a point to question Obama's faith and whether he is a secret muslim or if he was born here. Meanwhile abhorrent policies are being enacted, but we did get the birth certificate. In the sense of using a distraction to further another agenda I feel like Obama and Trump are the best of the best.

I really don't think their methods are the same here, are you suggesting Obama created distractions like the birthed movement? I think he just went for it. Trump certainly is creating distractions, actively fostering fatigue.

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#46

Post by k-mcgrady »

krath94 wrote: post #39
Dagwoodie wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He voted for a Republican .

It's sad that people generalize about people that vote Republican. Most republicans (or people that vote republican) I have met, including myself, have been supportive of the LGBT community. Not ALL Republicans are against LGBT, just like not all liberals want free government handouts. These generalizations about the "other side" are counter-productive. Also, I'm not saying you came across as generalizing, I know you…

I think the problem is that if you vote Republican because you are fiscally conservative you're making a decision that fiscal conservatism is more important to you than other citizens human/civil rights.

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#48

Post by zzzeek »

muninn_ wrote: post #38
alphonsegaston wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understood the mentality that unchecked power is only unacceptable when wielded by a government. For example, it's wrong for the government to surveil all its citizens but fine for a private company to do so, even if the end result makes life just as untenable (e.g. unable to get a job/housing because of credit checks, get access to healthcare because of pre-existing conditions). Given the trajectory of Ameri…

The difference is very very simple: the government has the legitimized use of force. Private corporations don't. A private corporation can't force me to do anything. Only the government can. If a private corporation came to try arrest me for not paying a bill that I contest, I can kill them for breaking into my property. I can't kill a government official over the same - with the government I have no natural recourse…

> A private corporation can't force me to do anything.

unless they are paid to be the local police force.

> If a private corporation came to try arrest me for not paying a bill that I contest, I can kill them for breaking into my property.

then they would bring much larger guns.

> I can't kill a government official over the same - with the government I have no natural recourse, only legal.

you can vote. With Blackwater in charge, you cannot (unless you are wealthy and powerful, of course).

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#49

Post by potatosoup »

clydethefrog wrote: post #9
redwood wrote: post #4

I just don't understand how he can call himself a libertarian. Self-rationalizing has no ends.

Look at the people behind Y Combinator that condemn Trump because according to them he represents a real threat to the safety of women, minorities, and immigrants[0], but at the same time have many financial ties with Thiel's practices. They have financial power to take a stand against this threat, but decide not do it. [0] http://blog.samaltman.com/the-2016-election

> He represents a real threat to the safety of women, minorities, and immigrants

As an immigrant myself, I keep seeing famous people write this, but I want some kind of "citation needed." What plans does this actually refer to?

Re: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir helped expand the NSA’s global spy network

#50

Post by muninn_ »

zzzeek wrote: post #48
muninn_ wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference is very very simple: the government has the legitimized use of force. Private corporations don't. A private corporation can't force me to do anything. Only the government can. If a private corporation came to try arrest me for not paying a bill that I contest, I can kill them for breaking into my property. I can't kill a government official over the same - with the government I have no natural recourse…

> A private corporation can't force me to do anything. unless they are paid to be the local police force. > If a private corporation came to try arrest me for not paying a bill that I contest, I can kill them for breaking into my property. then they would bring much larger guns. > I can't kill a government official over the same - with the government I have no natural recourse, only legal. you can vote. With Blackwat…

All of that is a result of government action and the government hiring private corporations, not private corporations acting on their own.
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