Orwellian

After the Manning verdict, four big issues remain untouched

"Mr. Manning’s lawyer, David Coombs, was ambiguous: 'We won the battle, now we need to go win the war... Today is a good day, but Bradley is by no means out of the fire.' WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, himself a fugitive and holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, described the verdict on Twitter as 'dangerous national security extremism.' If reflecting on what to make of the verdict seems difficult, consider this. The most critical issues of public policy raised by the Manning case have yet to be broached." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAfter the Manning verdict, four big issues remain untouched

Now They Want Your Passwords

"For a dozen years, the FBI and NSA have spied on Americans and shredded the Constitution. They say the Patriot Act “authorizes” their abuses. That means... If you repeal the Patriot Act, they have NO authorization! This is increasingly urgent, because their snooping is only getting worse... The feds are demanding web firms hand over master encryption keys that shield my private Internet activities (http://shar.es/kR364) - and they even want my passwords! (http://shar.es/kRHgV) Hacking into my private data and communications is THE SAME THING as going through my possessions and papers without a court-issued search warrant." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNow They Want Your Passwords

Moscow Subway To Use Devices To Read Data On Phones

"The head of police for Moscow's subway system has said stations will soon be equipped with devices that can read the data on the mobile telephones of passengers. In the July 29 edition of 'Izvestia,' Moscow Metro police chief Andrei Mokhov said the device would be used to help locate stolen mobile phones. Mokhov said the devices have a range of about 5 meters and can read the SIM card. According to experts, the devices can be used more widely to follow all passengers. Mokhov said it was illegal to track a person without permission from the authorities, but that there was no law against tracking the property of a company, such as a SIM card." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMoscow Subway To Use Devices To Read Data On Phones

Edward Snowden granted refugee status in Russia, leaves airport

"Fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden slipped quietly out of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Thursday after Russia granted him temporary asylum, ending more than a month in limbo in the transit area.A Russian lawyer who has been assisting Snowden said the American, who is wanted in the United States for leaking details of secret government intelligence programmes, had gone to a secure location which would remain secret. After weeks staying out of sight from hordes of reporters desperate for a glimpse of him, Snowden managed to slip away in a taxi without being spotted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEdward Snowden granted refugee status in Russia, leaves airport

Government releases declassified documents on NSA spying authorization

"The U.S. Director of National Intelligence released three declassified documents that authorized and explained the bulk collection of phone data, one of the secret surveillance programs revealed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. The declassification was made in the 'interest of increased transparency,' the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement. Much of what is contained in the documents has already been divulged in public hearings by intelligence officials as they sought to detail what was initially disclosed by Snowden." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment releases declassified documents on NSA spying authorization

NSA director Keith Alexander insists mass surveillance programs respect privacy

"Alexander, who is usually shy of publicity, attempted to win over the 7,000-strong gathering of industry professionals in Las Vegas as part of a charm offensive to contain the damage and deter Washington from curbing the programmes. Security guards confiscated eggs – presumably intended to be thrown – minutes before the NSA chief spoke. A few hecklers interrupted, accusing him of 'lying', 'bullshitting' and not reading the constitution. 'I have read it. So should you,' he shot back, earning laughs and applause. He praised the audience and invited them to help improve NSA. The performance won over the hackers, who applauded warmly at the end." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNSA director Keith Alexander insists mass surveillance programs respect privacy

Twitter report: U.S. leads the world in demands for user information

"Governments submitted a total of 1,157 requests for information about Twitter accounts, with 78 percent of those queries coming from the United States, according to a transparency report issued by the globally popular one-to-many test messaging service. Twitter reported that it gave US authorities what they sought in 67 percent of the cases. Twitter said the requests typically were made in connection with criminal investigations and lamented that it was barred by law from revealing anything about information demanded through US national security letters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTwitter report: U.S. leads the world in demands for user information

After the whistle: Revealers of government secrets share how their lives have changed

"The former high-ranking National Security Agency analyst now sells iPhones. The top intelligence officer at the CIA lives in a motor home outside Yellowstone National Park and spends his days fly-fishing for trout. The FBI translator fled Washington for the West Coast. This is what life looks like for some after revealing government secrets. Blowing the whistle on wrongdoing, according to those who did it. Jeopardizing national security, according to the government. A look at the lives of a handful of those who did just that shows that they often wind up far from the stable government jobs they held. They can even wind up in the aisles of a craft store." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAfter the whistle: Revealers of government secrets share how their lives have changed

For Congress, ‘it’s classified’ is new equivalent of ‘none of your business’

"The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence reportedly gave its approval last week to an Obama administration plan to provide weapons to moderate rebels in Syria, but how individual members of the committee stood on the subject remains unknown. There was no public debate and no public vote when one of the most contentious topics in American foreign policy was decided. Members of both the Senate intelligence committee or its equivalent in the House were difficult to pin down on their view of providing arms to the rebels. The senators and representatives said they couldn’t give an opinion, or at least a detailed one, because the matter was classified." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFor Congress, ‘it’s classified’ is new equivalent of ‘none of your business’

Cops Can Track Cellphones Without Warrants, Federal Appeals Court Rules

"A divided federal appeals court ruled today that the government does not need a probable-cause warrant to access mobile-phone subscribers’ cell-site information, a decision reversing lower court decisions that said the location data was protected by the Fourth Amendment. The 2-1 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the third federal appeals court to decide the privacy issue. All the while, two federal appellate courts have now taken the government’s position that court warrants are not required for the location data. And a third federal appellate court said judges had the option to demand warrants." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCops Can Track Cellphones Without Warrants, Federal Appeals Court Rules