News Eye on Americans - the FBI's Database on YOU

[Proton Soup]

I'll second that.

To fear the government, is to fear the people you put into power. I'm yet to hear a coherent argument that doesn't involve some form of fear mongering.

justification of spying on americans is driven by fear-mongering

 

[JaredJames]

justification of spying on americans is driven by fear-mongering

Really?

My whole basis for monitoring is that I just don't care whether they do or don't do it. If they feel there is a need to monitor my phone calls, so be it. I just don't see it as something that affects me. I'm not giving any reasons for them to do it. I'm simply saying they can if they want.

Perhaps my use of "fear mongering" was a bit strong, but so far the arguments against generally involve misuse of the data gathered. Yes this is a problem, but it's something that we need to deal with, do everything we can to ensure it doesn't happen.

Regarding the "Has Pfc. Manning taught us nothing?" comment, of course it has. It's taught us that there isn't enough security around so called "classified" data. To me the basis for this argument is like saying "ooh, someone leaked something they shouldn't have, so from now on we use this to justify not keeping classified documents", instead of saying "we need to up the security around said data". Just because something goes wrong, doesn't mean we should stop doing it. It means we need to learn and improve.

but if anyone here doesn't have something to hide (or THINKS they do), you're not human.

Can we please stop this nonsense.

Like I've said before, so far as personal information goes there is little you can't get about me on the internet. When it comes to other details such as bank accounts, credit cards and other such details, the government can already access this data if required so I don't see "you must have something to hide" as valid (remember we're talking about the government knowing it) simply on the basis that it's all out there anyway.

Besides, I honestly don't care what anyone knows about me. Heck, even with my bank account details you couldn't do anything with them.

There is a difference between having something to hide when it comes to personal and legal grounds.

Personal information being known by the government doesn't affect you. So they know you can't get it up, what does that mean to you? Why does that affect you? Does it have an impact on your life? Hiding something personal is your own choice and the government knowing it isn't the same as the people in your life you're hiding it from finding out.

Whether or not you hide the fact you have broken the law is irrelevant. It is still illegal and you deserve to be punished for it.

Hiding the fact you are gay is not a legal issue, it is a personal choice. Whether or not the government knows this fact about you is irrelevant. It serves little purpose to them.
Hiding the fact you download 100 mp3's each day is a legal issue. The government knowing this is relevant.

 

[nismaratwork]

Really?

My whole basis for monitoring is that I just don't care whether they do or don't do it. If they feel there is a need to monitor my phone calls, so be it. I just don't see it as something that affects me. I'm not giving any reasons for them to do it. I'm simply saying they can if they want.

Perhaps my use of "fear mongering" was a bit strong, but so far the arguments against generally involve misuse of the data gathered. Yes this is a problem, but it's something that we need to deal with, do everything we can to ensure it doesn't happen.

Regarding the "Has Pfc. Manning taught us nothing?" comment, of course it has. It's taught us that there isn't enough security around so called "classified" data. To me the basis for this argument is like saying "ooh, someone leaked something they shouldn't have, so from now on we use this to justify not keeping classified documents", instead of saying "we need to up the security around said data". Just because something goes wrong, doesn't mean we should stop doing it. It means we need to learn and improve.Can we please stop this nonsense.

Like I've said before, so far as personal information goes there is little you can't get about me on the internet. When it comes to other details such as bank accounts, credit cards and other such details, the government can already access this data if required so I don't see "you must have something to hide" as valid (remember we're talking about the government knowing it) simply on the basis that it's all out there anyway.

Besides, I honestly don't care what anyone knows about me. Heck, even with my bank account details you couldn't do anything with them.

There is a difference between having something to hide when it comes to personal and legal grounds.

Personal information being known by the government doesn't affect you. So they know you can't get it up, what does that mean to you? Why does that affect you? Does it have an impact on your life? Hiding something personal is your own choice and the government knowing it isn't the same as the people in your life you're hiding it from finding out.

Whether or not you hide the fact you have broken the law is irrelevant. It is still illegal and you deserve to be punished for it.

Hiding the fact you are gay is not a legal issue, it is a personal choice. Whether or not the government knows this fact about you is irrelevant. It serves little purpose to them.
Hiding the fact you download 100 mp3's each day is a legal issue. The government knowing this is relevant.

Let me point out a single (not the only) error in your post. It's not a bad thing, and it's a common misconception. Forget a gem like your entire bank account info, with which someone with NO COMPUTER experience... just some con-man... could clean you out. People who know full well that they don't have a flatscreen TV on layaway still worry about their credit because destroying it through a mistake or fraud is EASY... fixing it... not so much. Let's say that I know everything I need to call your bank's customer service, well... now I can work the details I need into the conversation. Maybe others will doubt I'm you, but will they still feel the same way if I know your SSN and the previous day's bank balance, your credit rating, family structure, job, some of your friends... you get the idea.

That is ONE, very small (in its genesis) misconception you have. HOWEVER... if you'd like to see what can be done with personal info, I make you the same offer I made Russ, but I take no responsibility for what follows, and in your case I refuse to be personally involved... guilt is a b***h.

P.S. The FBI can't be bothered with pirates... AFAIK the industry used to police that. The FBI worries about terrorism and pedophiles, meth cooks circulating recipes and the like. If the FBI were on the issue of piracy at the consumer level (not the group level), there would be a LOOOOOOOT of people in jail for piracy.

EDIT: Hiding that you're gay is a legal REQUIREMENT if you're gay, as of this writing in the US military. DADT should be considered to be in effect according to Sec. Gates until final removal of the policy... and those are turned into orders.

I'm sorry, we went from a cold-war era when the FBI did muscle its way into your life, then out, then into a hippy period when we find they were also tracked... then vietnam and that tracking. I've also seen how radically and completely our government can change (Clinton->Bush W.->Obama)... which according to some is a move from socialism, to nazism, to marxism. My point is that betting on the policies of the FBI, or even our elected officials is iffy... I'd rather be private. As the USSC agrees, I'll take it. We're within 100 years of gay people having to hide to live (ignoring gay-bashing NOW), the Red MENACE, and so much more. Am I supposed to be pleased that because I'm not a criminal I have little to worry about, or should I do what people have since they realized the fig leaf did a marvelous job hiding their crotches and keep my privacy where I choose? I'm sorry that's not good enough for god or country, but from personal experience I'll take that too.

 

[nismaratwork]

Regarding the "Has Pfc. Manning taught us nothing?" comment, of course it has. It's taught us that there isn't enough security around so called "classified" data. To me the basis for this argument is like saying "ooh, someone leaked something they shouldn't have, so from now on we use this to justify not keeping classified documents", instead of saying "we need to up the security around said data". <snip>[/B]

Not my point at all, not at all! My points:

A fool and a traitor who didn't NEED that access not only had it, but had it freely in every sense. Data that is so important our government believes that people have or will die as a result was made freely available to half a million people.

A fool and a traitor gave that information to a foreign/non-national entity for publication.

Our security, IN WAR, regarding 2 wars, that was thought to be secure by MOST people... was not.

Based on this recent safe-guarding of its own Secret and NF info I'm supposed to be filled with a sense of faith and trust? Ha! No, I'm not saying the lesson is that documents shouldn't be kept... it's that we shouldn't expect them to stay secret... oh, and we need security not a wall of swiss-cheese.

 

[JaredJames]

Let me point out a single (not the only) error in your post. It's not a bad thing, and it's a common misconception. Forget a gem like your entire bank account info, with which someone with NO COMPUTER experience... just some con-man... could clean you out. People who know full well that they don't have a flatscreen TV on layaway still worry about their credit because destroying it through a mistake or fraud is EASY... fixing it... not so much. Let's say that I know everything I need to call your bank's customer service, well... now I can work the details I need into the conversation. Maybe others will doubt I'm you, but will they still feel the same way if I know your SSN and the previous day's bank balance, your credit rating, family structure, job, some of your friends... you get the idea.

That is ONE, very small (in its genesis) misconception you have. HOWEVER... if you'd like to see what can be done with personal info, I make you the same offer I made Russ, but I take no responsibility for what follows, and in your case I refuse to be personally involved... guilt is a b***h.

The reason I made the statement is simple. If my credit report changes in any way, I'm notified. Any (and I mean any) transaction on my bank account is flagged to me because I have to receive a phone call and enter a confirmation code (it's a tad annoying to say the least, but it means no money can leave my account without me giving it the go ahead).

You could certainly try and clean me out, you may even get a few loan applications through, but the moment they check my credit rating I'm informed and the credit scoring company stop the application if I don't confirm it.

So you can't get money out of my account, you can't get money in my name, which means that having my identity is only good if you want to phone up Virgin Media and cancel my internet service.

P.S. The FBI can't be bothered with pirates... AFAIK the industry used to police that. The FBI worries about terrorism and pedophiles, meth cooks circulating recipes and the like. If the FBI were on the issue of piracy at the consumer level (not the group level), there would be a LOOOOOOOT of people in jail for piracy.

It was an example of breaking the law (it was 4am and creativity wasn't my forte).

EDIT: Hiding that you're gay is a legal REQUIREMENT if you're gay, as of this writing in the US military. DADT should be considered to be in effect according to Sec. Gates until final removal of the policy... and those are turned into orders.

It's gone now, the bill was signed if I watched correctly on TV (or has it lied to me again? Who was that impersonating Obama? Dammit they've stolen his ID!). So this isn't relevant.

I'm sorry, we went from a cold-war era when the FBI did muscle its way into your life, then out, then into a hippy period when we find they were also tracked... then vietnam and that tracking. I've also seen how radically and completely our government can change (Clinton->Bush W.->Obama)... which according to some is a move from socialism, to nazism, to marxism. My point is that betting on the policies of the FBI, or even our elected officials is iffy... I'd rather be private. As the USSC agrees, I'll take it.

I disagree, but that's a different argument.

We're within 100 years of gay people having to hide to live (ignoring gay-bashing NOW), the Red MENACE, and so much more.

Let's not make things up. We're in a society taking more and more steps to make gay people have equal standing (which I support) so I see no basis for this claim.

Am I supposed to be pleased that because I'm not a criminal I have little to worry about, or should I do what people have since they realized the fig leaf did a marvelous job hiding their crotches and keep my privacy where I choose? I'm sorry that's not good enough for god or country, but from personal experience I'll take that too.

You are not a criminal, therefore you have no reason to fear your government.
I think we need to distinguish between public decency and 'having something to hide'.

 

[JaredJames]

A fool and a traitor who didn't NEED that access not only had it, but had it freely in every sense. Data that is so important our government believes that people have or will die as a result was made freely available to half a million people.

This tells me there is a flaw in the system, which needs to be addressed. Security needs to be improved in much the same ways they demand of private companies. As I said before, just because it goes wrong doesn't mean it's a valid reason to stop doing everything of the sort (data collecting/holding). You improve the system, make some changes and then go again. It's only when a flaw is highlighted that we can take steps to fix it. Standard debugging.

A fool and a traitor gave that information to a foreign/non-national entity for publication.

As point 1.

Our security, IN WAR, regarding 2 wars, that was thought to be secure by MOST people... was not.

As point 1.

Based on this recent safe-guarding of its own Secret and NF info I'm supposed to be filled with a sense of faith and trust? Ha! No, I'm not saying the lesson is that documents shouldn't be kept... it's that we shouldn't expect them to stay secret... oh, and we need security not a wall of swiss-cheese.

I feel better, knowing that they have had a flaw found and have done something about it* than if no flaw is found at all. We take a problem and fix it, not use it as the basis to stop all similar applications.

Yes the government has flaws, yes we need to fix them.

(* if they do nothing then I get a bit uneasy)

 

[nismaratwork]

The reason I made the statement is simple. If my credit report changes in any way, I'm notified. Any (and I mean any) transaction on my bank account is flagged to me because I have to receive a phone call and enter a confirmation code (it's a tad annoying to say the least, but it means no money can leave my account without me giving it the go ahead).

You could certainly try and clean me out, you may even get a few loan applications through, but the moment they check my credit rating I'm informed and the credit scoring company stop the application if I don't confirm it.

So you can't get money out of my account, you can't get money in my name, which means that having my identity is only good if you want to phone up Virgin Media and cancel my internet service.



It was an example of breaking the law (it was 4am and creativity wasn't my forte).


It's gone now, the bill was signed if I watched correctly on TV (or has it lied to me again? Who was that impersonating Obama? Dammit they've stolen his ID!). So this isn't relevant.


I disagree, but that's a different argument.


Let's not make things up. We're in a society taking more and more steps to make gay people have equal standing (which I support) so I see no basis for this claim.


You are not a criminal, therefore you have no reason to fear your government.
I think we need to distinguish between public decency and 'having something to hide'.

You're not wrong here... Obama DID repeal the DADT, but part of the whole deal is that the military has to go another round proving they've taken the proper unit-cohesion measures, and educational measures necessary. I believe they have... 6 months?... I think. In the meantime, Gates (SecDef) has said to act as though it were still in place, although I assume this doesn't include any further expulsions.

The second, relates to your bank account. I've never stolen from someone, on or offline, but I sure as hell know how to do it. The heroin addict who goes through your trash might make a few purchases until your bank calls you... someone more interested in actually taking over your identity doesn't. Like a thief with the big score in mind... actually they ARE thieves with the big score in mind... would it make more sense to take the first bit of info and just run it out? Nah... you wait, you use it to get more info, and when you have enough get what you planned you go in. USUALLY that has nothing to do with emptying random bank accounts, but I'm not going to get into a tutorial of "how to" electronic fraud and other crimes. As I said, you're smart, you can see where this is going. You don't have to believe me, but that call to or from Virgin is just going to be very depressing.

Besides, maybe I look at your account and realize that you're a harder target than I want to hit, but I can use it to get to your family members who are softer, or trade them as a package for a larger number of lower-reward-lower-risk targets. This is an entire economy on Irc and other haunts... it's ugly, I hate it, and it's part of what drove me away from networking a long time ago, but there it is. The people who want your info are often the type who want to simply hurt you for fun, or abuse you professionally for money or access elsewhere.

I agree that gay people are getting more rights, and subject to less violence. This means that my example of gay was just that... an example... I don't pretend to know what human quality will next be vilified in that fashion, but I'd be shocked if something doesn't take its place. Let's run this however: You're gay, you work at ARAMCO, and they decide that to keep your lifestyle from even POTENTIALLY offending a random Saudi prince, you should stay state-side, and you lose a job without ever knowing you could have had it. You can't look at a society you're immersed in and pretend to know what its next object of hatred or fear will be, but I have great faith that there will be one.

Your last point... when I say "something to hide", I mean: I (you, russ, everyone) has SECRETS... something to hide, to keep hidden. Hell man, maybe it's just that you suck you set fires, russ wets the bed and I torture small animals, and together we are, THE MACDONALD'S TRIAD... TRIAD... Trio... stuff! It's an obscure reference, but I like it... anyway... I don't mean that everyone is a criminal or worse, but that to keep secrets is a human imperative. We kill each other over secrets far less potentially damaging than our sexual orientation, financial situation, and more... even if it's stupid.

P.S. In the spirit of this thread:
-Russ has a bladder like a champion and never even wet his diaper.
-I LOVE animals and never so much as pet a cat against the fur-grain.
-Jared is a firefighter.

"c'est pas une pipe"

 

[nismaratwork]

This tells me there is a flaw in the system, which needs to be addressed. Security needs to be improved in much the same ways they demand of private companies. As I said before, just because it goes wrong doesn't mean it's a valid reason to stop doing everything of the sort (data collecting/holding). You improve the system, make some changes and then go again. It's only when a flaw is highlighted that we can take steps to fix it. Standard debugging.

I'd agree, but these flaws aren't news. People have been screaming about all things electronic security re our government for years... this is standard government debugging: wait for a catastrophe then find a little boy to stick his finger in the dike.

As point 1.


As point 1.

Likewise.

I feel better, knowing that they have had a flaw found and have done something about it* than if no flaw is found at all. We take a problem and fix it, not use it as the basis to stop all similar applications.

I'd have felt better if this was some hack, not a bureaupathology relating to SIPRnet, the DoD in general and its dealings with Foggy Bottom in particular.

Yes the government has flaws, yes we need to fix them.

(* if they do nothing then I get a bit uneasy)

Agreed, and I am uneasy.

 

[JaredJames]

The second, relates to your bank account. I've never stolen from someone, on or offline, but I sure as hell know how to do it. The heroin addict who goes through your trash might make a few purchases until your bank calls you... someone more interested in actually taking over your identity doesn't. Like a thief with the big score in mind... actually they ARE thieves with the big score in mind... would it make more sense to take the first bit of info and just run it out? Nah... you wait, you use it to get more info, and when you have enough get what you planned you go in. USUALLY that has nothing to do with emptying random bank accounts, but I'm not going to get into a tutorial of "how to" electronic fraud and other crimes. As I said, you're smart, you can see where this is going. You don't have to believe me, but that call to or from Virgin is just going to be very depressing.

Besides, maybe I look at your account and realize that you're a harder target than I want to hit, but I can use it to get to your family members who are softer, or trade them as a package for a larger number of lower-reward-lower-risk targets. This is an entire economy on Irc and other haunts... it's ugly, I hate it, and it's part of what drove me away from networking a long time ago, but there it is. The people who want your info are often the type who want to simply hurt you for fun, or abuse you professionally for money or access elsewhere.

There's a reason I take severe measures, the details of which aren't relevant here (EDIT: I just realized how this looks and suffice to say I'm not a fraudster). However, even with a copy of my card and PIN number you'd only get away with one (small) amount of cash before it was flagged to me.
So far as identity fraud goes, you can try but it won't go too far. Sure you can get my details, phone up and cancel various contracts I have, but aside from that, getting money in my name won't happen (assuming it involves some form of check, which pretty much everything does now anyway).

My family would be extremely easy targets, to the point my grandfather was a subject of credit card fraud to the tune of £2000. The company flagged it and dealt with it though. And all this despite my constant warnings of the threat.

Lets run this however: You're gay, you work at ARAMCO, and they decide that to keep your lifestyle from even POTENTIALLY offending a random Saudi prince, you should stay state-side, and you lose a job without ever knowing you could have had it. You can't look at a society you're immersed in and pretend to know what its next object of hatred or fear will be, but I have great faith that there will be one.

I understand your point, however this is an issue with another country and as with anything involving international issues you must abide by those countries laws, or at least be mindful of them. I think the company has every right to protect its own image.

Your last point... when I say "something to hide", I mean: I (you, russ, everyone) has SECRETS... something to hide, to keep hidden. Hell man, maybe it's just that you suck you set fires, russ wets the bed and I torture small animals, and together we are, THE MACDONALD'S TRIAD... TRIAD... Trio... stuff! It's an obscure reference, but I like it... anyway... I don't mean that everyone is a criminal or worse, but that to keep secrets is a human imperative. We kill each other over secrets far less potentially damaging than our sexual orientation, financial situation, and more... even if it's stupid.

Yes, but how does the government knowing russ wets himself damage him or have any impact on him? Me setting fires is a crime and you torturing animals is a crime and something they need to deal with.
I know people have secrets and may have things they may want to keep hidden, but in the context of this thread it is very much about legality and the government monitoring for that reason. As such, details like bed wetting are truly irrelevant and of no interest to them (unless some serial killer falls asleep halfway through and p*sses the bed before leaving - in which case, russ, you're going down!).

P.S. In the spirit of this thread:
-Russ has a bladder like a champion and never even wet his diaper.
-I LOVE animals and never so much as pet a cat against the fur-grain.
-Jared is a firefighter.

"c'est pas une pipe"

Cheers mate, drink all over keyboard and my cat (he's annoyed at you now).

 

[nismaratwork]

There's a reason I take severe measures, the details of which aren't relevant here. However, even with a copy of my card and PIN number you'd only get away with one (small) amount of cash before it was flagged to me.
So far as identity fraud goes, you can try but it won't go too far. Sure you can get my details, phone up and cancel various contracts I have, but aside from that, getting money in my name won't happen (assuming it involves some form of check, which pretty much everything does now anyway).I understand your point, however this is an issue with another country and as with anything involving international issues you must abide by those countries laws, or at least be mindful of them. I think the company has every right to protect its own image.Yes, but how does the government knowing russ wets himself damage him or have any impact on him? Me setting fires is a crime and you torturing animals is a crime and something they need to deal with.
I know people have secrets and may have things they may want to keep hidden, but in the context of this thread it is very much about legality and the government monitoring for that reason. As such, details like bed wetting are truly irrelevant and of no interest to them (unless some serial killer falls asleep halfway through and p*sses the bed before leaving - in which case, russ, you're going down!).
Cheers mate, drink all over keyboard and my cat (he's annoyed at you now).

There's no harm in the gov knowing that russ wets himself, and your fire-starting could be recreational and harmless. My animal torturing should get me shot, but putting that aside, I brought it up specifically as it relates to the Macdonald Triad... personally I hope the government DOES screen for fire starters and animal killers. You might not know what that is, and I might conclude that it's just an interesting coincidence for now, but a prospective employer might be less educated, or improperly educated. Clearly you are familiar with the triad, but not overly familiar... which is usual for people. I'm also using a pretty "out there" example...

Aramco is a US company that does business in Saudi Arabia. My point is that even seemingly distant sensibilities that only your boss is concerned about can have an impact. You don't have to have a reasonable prejudice to act on it, or a reasonable fear... that goes for bosses, friends, and people who work for the government.

Finally... you are clearly more security minded than most people or companies, a fact of which you seem to be aware. I maintain that given an attempt to use your information in ways that don't involve stealing money from your account is easy, but this is getting too close to your security and my desire not to teach criminal behaviour. I'll concede that you personally are willing and able to take measures that protect one aspect of your life in a way that few others do. This makes you, if not an overly difficult target, certainly an EXTREMELY unpalatable one in a world full of taste snacks. As it is for Apple and their relationship to viruses, that's a very safe place to be. I wish we could get into more detail, but I don't see how it's feasible in this setting.

P.S. Cheers to you as well, and my apologies to your cat. I'm sure he's both handsome and adorable, while maintain8ing the kind of feline dignity humans have come to expect from our fuzzy buddies.

 

[JaredJames]

I wish we could get into more detail, but I don't see how it's feasible in this setting.

Agreed. I know of a number of ways that you could take me out, but I consider them above the average criminal and I actually keep tabs on certain ones to ensure 'all is well'.

P.S. Cheers to you as well, and my apologies to your cat. I'm sure he's both handsome and adorable, while maintain8ing the kind of feline dignity humans have come to expect from our fuzzy buddies.

Well he's now sporting a lovely Budweiser hair gel, I can see me not being the only slightly tipsy one in the house once he starts washing himself.

 

[nismaratwork]

Agreed. I know of a number of ways that you could take me out, but I consider them above the average criminal and I actually keep tabs on certain ones to ensure 'all is well'.

I'm sorry that more people can't do that, but I'm glad you do!

Well he's now sporting a lovely Budweiser hair gel, I can see me not being the only slightly tipsy one in the house once he starts washing himself.

Heh... the beer-drinkers equivalent of blowing pot-smoke at the cat. I kind of like this version, since we already know that virtually all higher mammals like a tip now and then.

 

[Proton Soup]

Really?

My whole basis for monitoring is that I just don't care whether they do or don't do it. If they feel there is a need to monitor my phone calls, so be it. I just don't see it as something that affects me. I'm not giving any reasons for them to do it. I'm simply saying they can if they want.

great, so your whole argument is that you don't care. in that case, you can opt in. and since you don't care, you obviously don't care that other people don't want to opt in.

 

[JaredJames]

great, so your whole argument is that you don't care. in that case, you can opt in. and since you don't care, you obviously don't care that other people don't want to opt in.

I don't believe I've ever said I do care whether or not people want to opt in. (You're right, I don't).

I simply don't understand the reasons they don't want to, they don't make sense to me and from what I've seen don't give a reasonable explanation of why the government shouldn't be allowed to.

 

[nismaratwork]

great, so your whole argument is that you don't care. in that case, you can opt in. and since you don't care, you obviously don't care that other people don't want to opt in.

For all that I disagree with him on this, I don't think it's fair to boil down a page or more of Jarednjames' views into one sentence addressing only his personal stance. His actual argument was, if I recall from mere hours ago, centered far more on the question of what the risk is in this risk/reward calculation. He's claiming very low risk, I feel otherwise, but "I don't care" seems like short shrift and a bad way to start if that's how you're trying to represent the totality of his view. I'm just going on what he's written here, so you should have access to this.

 

[JaredJames]

Just for clarity, I did say "I don't care", but purely in regards to the government monitoring me, it is my own opinion on the matter (let's keep things in context to what I said and meant and not apply them elsewhere as I feel proton did).

I'm not using this as my argument (as you have clearly noted).

 

[Proton Soup]

For all that I disagree with him on this, I don't think it's fair to boil down a page or more of Jarednjames' views into one sentence addressing only his personal stance. His actual argument was, if I recall from mere hours ago, centered far more on the question of what the risk is in this risk/reward calculation. He's claiming very low risk, I feel otherwise, but "I don't care" seems like short shrift and a bad way to start if that's how you're trying to represent the totality of his view. I'm just going on what he's written here, so you should have access to this.

i took "whole basis" at face value.

i also take issue with trying to sweep other peoples' concerns under the rug as "fearmongering". if the reasons the founding fathers had for putting in protections aren't enough, one need only look back to the beginnings of the FBI and Hoover's misuse of personal information. if Hoover's not enough, then maybe consider some of his minions like Liddy. the abuse potential is there, and historically, it has been used.

as for risk/reward... that's an interesting question to me, because it presumes one can violate the privacy rights of individuals for the sake of a right that doesn't exist: the right to be kept safe. the USSC at least doesn't seem to think you have a right to be protected by the police. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales and I'm not sure such rights of safety exist in the Constitution other than the rights to be safe from government abuses.

anyhoo, i suppose it's a bit of a dead horse beating.

 

[nismaratwork]

i took "whole basis" at face value.

i also take issue with trying to sweep other peoples' concerns under the rug as "fearmongering". if the reasons the founding fathers had for putting in protections aren't enough, one need only look back to the beginnings of the FBI and Hoover's misuse of personal information. if Hoover's not enough, then maybe consider some of his minions like Liddy. the abuse potential is there, and historically, it has been used.

as for risk/reward... that's an interesting question to me, because it presumes one can violate the privacy rights of individuals for the sake of a right that doesn't exist: the right to be kept safe. the USSC at least doesn't seem to think you have a right to be protected by the police. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales and I'm not sure such rights of safety exist in the Constitution other than the rights to be safe from government abuses.

anyhoo, i suppose it's a bit of a dead horse beating.

Regarding the portion in bold, I have the same concerns. Unfortunately we're closer to an external attack than an internal one. I think that it's safe to say we'll always be swinging between domestic and foreign paranoia.

 

[Proton Soup]

Regarding the portion in bold, I have the same concerns. Unfortunately we're closer to an external attack than an internal one. I think that it's safe to say we'll always be swinging between domestic and foreign paranoia.

there is certainly a bit of pendulum swing wrt to liberties and war. unfortunately, it seems the trend to war and peace is becoming less of a pendulum swing and more of a full tilt. and instead of interning one race of people like we did in WWII, now we'll just intern the lot of us. i see a nation that is chugging full speed into fascism, doing things that make me feel ashamed, and I'm just sick of it.

 

[Evo]

Uh, this discussion is so off base. Fact, the government is tracking us. I was sent to a security seminar a few years ago by my company because of what I do. The guy that held it was the former head of security for the Whitehouse. Former Chief of Staff. It was in my blog here which was lost in the last upgrade.

Anyone that thinks they've gone to a questionable site or said questionable things and isn't on a watchlist is nuts.

We were advised that the government watches certain websites and if you've visited, you're now on the list. Welcome to reality.

 

[Proton Soup]

you make me so depressed

 

[nismaratwork]

Uh, this discussion is so off base. Fact, the government is tracking us. I was sent to a security seminar a few years ago by my company because of what I do. The guy that held it was the former head of security for the Whitehouse. Former Chief of Staff. It was in my blog here which was lost in the last upgrade.

Anyone that thinks they've gone to a questionable site or said questionable things and isn't on a watchlist is nuts.

We were advised that the government watches certain websites and if you've visited, you're now on the list. Welcome to reality.

Indeed, but this isn't new, it's just a broader net that can be cast with modern networking. HOWEVER, there is a huge difference between a file on a person existing, and that file being used in a manner which harms them or confers an advantage. PF is probably one of the few communities that is chock-full of people with major security clearance issues outside of the industries many of you work in.

I did some work in Israel about a decade ago, and they went over me with a fine-toothed comb. The fact is that if you get certain kinds of jobs, you invite or are open to a special degree of scrutiny. If you're a great engineer who'll be working on a NMDS, knowing that you're also a compulsive gambler who could get into debt and be compromised as a result... is relevant.

Now, Hoover and others have been a little more... what's the term now... "forward leaning" in their security posture, but we saw the backlash against that information being used. These days they're just so swamped by their own paranoia... if you're at a protest you're on a list. Visit a porn site that ALSO has a section that's truly perverted... list. Say a few keyworks on a phone-call across state-lines... list.

The question advocates of these lists should be asking is: who's sifting through them? When we automate, highly published mistakes are made, and there aren't enough trained people to do it. So, you focus on the threat du jour, which these days is probably... terrorism, drugs, and child abuse through the internet. I think those are pretty good priorities, but when you don't have a good process to share lists with other agencies (oh look, paul isn't JUST on one list, but 4!...), and acting on intelligence is considered the greatest sin next to letting its usefulness lapse... well... the average criminal citizen can sleep easy.

In the end, it's very easy to gather info... sorting it, using it, keeping it up to date..
...there's a reason we usually discover warnings of major attacks, from Pearl Harbor to 9.11, AFTER they occur. The attack itself acts as the key to bring together the information... kind of an reversed Minority Report.