Author Topic: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage. (Read 386237 times)

IainB · « **Reply #575 on:** June 14, 2014, 07:25 AM »

I spotted this headline just now whilst skimming through the unread slashdot posts in my Bazsqux reader. I don't think this is "new" news, but the brilliant suggestion to help the NSA at the end of this was something I hadn't seen before:
US Secret Service Wants To Identify Snark
(Copied below sans embedded hyperlinks/images.)

Unknown Lamer posted about two weeks ago | from the bound-for-success dept.
Privacy 213

beschra (1424727) writes
"From the article: 'The U.S. Secret Service is seeking software that can identify top influencers and trending sets of social media data, allowing the agency to monitor these streams in real-time — and sift through the sarcasm. "We are not currently aware of any automated technology that could do that (detect sarcasm). No one is considered a leader in that,'" Jamie Martin, a data acquisition engineer at Sioux Falls, SD based Bright Planet, told CBS News.'

Why not just force Twitter to change TOS to require sarcasm tag?"

Oh wait...that's sarcasm innit?

40hz · « **Reply #576 on:** June 14, 2014, 01:31 PM »

Surveillance technology use is more addictive than crack AFAICT.

One reason why I never participated in any project that involved monitoring people was because I have seen what this technology does to the people who use it.

Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

IainB · « **Reply #577 on:** June 14, 2014, 10:13 PM »

^^ Can surveillance be addictive? I hadn't known that.
To be snagged by something addictive - like a drug - one generally needs to have some susceptibility to it, a sort of innate natural dependency - e.g., smoking cigarettes, or alcoholism. Maybe there is something within us - a natural proclivity - to spy upon others. Maybe it is a survival thing - I mean, if one is spying upon others - potential enemies/competitors - then they can't be spying on oneself, and one knows more about them than they know about oneself, so one might have some kind of "powerful" feeling about it. Or maybe it's a form of voyeurism.
The nosy "twitching curtains" syndrome in small communities comes to mind.

wraith808 · « **Reply #578 on:** June 15, 2014, 12:25 AM »

No one is a villain in their own story. That's just human nature. Those that are behind PRISM and other initiatives think they're doing the right thing. And I think that's the addictive part of it... the more you see, the more you think you need to see.

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #579 on:** June 15, 2014, 12:56 PM »

No one is a villain in their own story. That's just human nature. Those that are behind PRISM and other initiatives think they're doing the right thing. And I think that's the addictive part of it... the more you see, the more you think you need to see.
-wraith808 (June 15, 2014, 12:25 AM)

Someday, ^this should be a famous quote.

wraith808 · « **Reply #580 on:** June 15, 2014, 06:05 PM »

No one is a villain in their own story. That's just human nature. Those that are behind PRISM and other initiatives think they're doing the right thing. And I think that's the addictive part of it... the more you see, the more you think you need to see.
-wraith808 (June 15, 2014, 12:25 AM)

Someday, ^this should be a famous quote.
-Stoic Joker (June 15, 2014, 12:56 PM)

To be fair, I thought I may have remembered that from somewhere, though I love to quote it.

http://www.brainyquo.../georgerr575871.html

Nobody is a villain in their own story. We're all the heroes of our own stories.
- George R. R. Martin

IainB · « **Reply #581 on:** June 17, 2014, 12:12 PM »

Very droll: Congressman asks NSA to provide metadata for “lost” IRS e-mails | Ars Technica

40hz · « **Reply #582 on:** June 17, 2014, 01:00 PM »

Very droll: Congressman asks NSA to provide metadata for “lost” IRS e-mails | Ars Technica
-IainB (June 17, 2014, 12:12 PM)

All I can say is:

superboyac · « **Reply #583 on:** June 17, 2014, 02:18 PM »

Surveillance technology use is more addictive than crack AFAICT.

One reason why I never participated in any project that involved monitoring people was because I have seen what this technology does to the people who use it.
(see attachment in previous post)
-40hz (June 14, 2014, 01:31 PM)

Do you feel the same about home surveillance of your own pad?

wraith808 · « **Reply #584 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:50 PM »

Do you feel the same about home surveillance of your own pad?
-superboyac (June 17, 2014, 02:18 PM)

I know you asked 40... but I'll answer with a yes, for me personally.

You know the ghosts you see in the corner of your eyes. And then you look that way, and they're gone. It's the same with any surveillance. This isn't to say that it's not useful. But it's the same as with those ghosts- even with security.

Oh, I have blind spots... I need to see more. Oh, was that something off in the woods? I need to put something to be able to see out there. Oh... what was that guy doing out this time of night by my mailbox... maybe a camera there...

...and if you resist, that siren call will still be in your head.

But what if something happens, and I don't do it? How will I feel then?

Seems like paranoia waiting to happen, IMO. For me, especially since I now live in a very rural area surrounded by strange noises at night, deer and other animals running around, and all sorts of imaginary goblins just waiting to lurk in my mind?

The answer is definitely yes.

40hz · « **Reply #585 on:** June 17, 2014, 06:26 PM »

Surveillance technology use is more addictive than crack AFAICT.

One reason why I never participated in any project that involved monitoring people was because I have seen what this technology does to the people who use it.
(see attachment in previous post)
-40hz (June 14, 2014, 01:31 PM)
Do you feel the same about home surveillance of your own pad?
-superboyac (June 17, 2014, 02:18 PM)

Yes I do. Even with pets at home and me being out a lot.

It's not completely rational I know. But I'm sort of where Mark Twain was when he told his doctor he couldn't moderate his smoking or drinking habits. Twain said while he could give up a bad habit completely, he didn't think he could moderate one indefinitely.

Probably I could. Maybe I couldn't. But why even go there to begin with?

Lead us not into temptation...and all that.

Like a certain lady said: "I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel."

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #586 on:** June 17, 2014, 07:50 PM »

Home video surveillance:

Best thing that can happen is you end up with a movie of a bunch of guys running off with your stuff. While the cops will use the footage to hassle a bunch of people ...(see Clown Laugh Video Above)... You will never see any of your shit ever again.

Worst thing that can happen is the neighbors house gets broken into and the cops want your footage. So they seize you video equipment and other data storage devices (e.g. you computer), they f*** it up royally which isn't really an issue because they never give it back anyway. And then they arrest you for something they find on the hard drive ... That they felt was questionable.

Renegade · « **Reply #587 on:** June 17, 2014, 09:43 PM »

Very droll: Congressman asks NSA to provide metadata for “lost” IRS e-mails | Ars Technica
-IainB (June 17, 2014, 12:12 PM)

tl;dr - The dog ate my homework.

40hz · « **Reply #588 on:** June 17, 2014, 09:47 PM »

And then they arrest you for something they find on the hard drive ... That they felt was questionable.
-Stoic Joker (June 17, 2014, 07:50 PM)

Yep. One "borrowed" software title, book, movie, or song downloaded from a share site, disk rip, or given to you by a helpful friend is enough to get you busted. And you don't even need to break an actual law. False arrests and abuse of police powers are so widespread they no longer anger judges enough that our sonambulent judiciary feels motivated to do anything about it. Even when such abuses come up in the course of trial - assuming it ever gets that far.

Nowadays making a plea deal to a lesser offence - or signing away your right to sue - in order to avoid prosecution for a heavily trumped up charge is also becoming the norm.

Renegade · « **Reply #589 on:** June 17, 2014, 09:59 PM »

Surveillance technology use is more addictive than crack AFAICT.

One reason why I never participated in any project that involved monitoring people was because I have seen what this technology does to the people who use it.
(see attachment in previous post)
-40hz (June 14, 2014, 01:31 PM)

Not that I follow any kind of literary critiques on Tolkien, but I've heard Jeff Berwick bring up The Lord of the Rings a few times. He's commented that Tolkien was an anarchist (this is true) and that the trilogy in part is a metaphor for state power.

In a lot of ways that makes sense. The 1 ring:

One ring to rule them all, <--- about power over others
One ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all,
And in the darkness bind them. <--- the downward spiral

I figure that the ring is also an allusion to Glaucon's ring.

Your choice of the 1 ring there as an illustration is poignant. The corrupting influences of power, the ever increasing desire, lust, cravings... and the downward spiral that ensues.

I think General Keith "Golem" Alexander probably understands this. At least from a different perspective. "Utah, my precious!"

Renegade · « **Reply #590 on:** June 17, 2014, 10:02 PM »

Nowadays making a plea deal to a lesser offence - or signing away your right to sue - in order to avoid prosecution for a heavily trumped up charge is also becoming the norm.
-40hz (June 17, 2014, 09:47 PM)

^^ THAT!

IainB · « **Reply #591 on:** July 02, 2014, 11:29 AM »

Interesting...

Scott Adams Blog: The Religion War Predictions 07/02/2014
...In the book I imagined that the government would combat terrorism by strictly limiting digital communications. If someone is not on your approved list you can't call, text, or email with them. If you want to add someone to your list, there's a bureaucratic process to do that. That part of the prediction is unlikely to happen because the NSA can monitor every form of communication, and that's a more effective solution. I didn't see that coming. But I'll take partial credit for predicting that the government wouldn't allow unfettered private conversations over networks in the future.

Renegade · « **Reply #592 on:** July 06, 2014, 01:46 AM »

^^ Can surveillance be addictive? I hadn't known that.
-PabloSaulw (July 05, 2014, 12:10 AM)

I think it's probably more along the lines of being addicted to power, and surveillance just being a tool of power.

And then a little splash of voyeurism to boot!

TaoPhoenix · « **Reply #593 on:** July 06, 2014, 07:25 AM »

^^ Can surveillance be addictive? I hadn't known that.
-PabloSaulw (July 05, 2014, 12:10 AM)

I think it's probably more along the lines of being addicted to power, and surveillance just being a tool of power.

And then a little splash of voyeurism to boot!
-Renegade (July 06, 2014, 01:46 AM)

In my sillier moments I think it would be hysterical to make an NSA simulator game! : )

app103 · « **Reply #594 on:** July 07, 2014, 04:14 AM »

^^ Can surveillance be addictive? I hadn't known that.
-PabloSaulw (July 05, 2014, 12:10 AM)

I think it's probably more along the lines of being addicted to power, and surveillance just being a tool of power.

And then a little splash of voyeurism to boot!
-Renegade (July 06, 2014, 01:46 AM)

Or perhaps you have quoted someone addicted to forum spamming, who had nothing of real value to add to this conversation.

40hz · « **Reply #595 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:30 AM »

^^ Can surveillance be addictive? I hadn't known that.
-PabloSaulw (July 05, 2014, 12:10 AM)

I think it's probably more along the lines of being addicted to power, and surveillance just being a tool of power.

And then a little splash of voyeurism to boot!
-Renegade (July 06, 2014, 01:46 AM)

Or perhaps you have quoted someone addicted to forum spamming, who had nothing of real value to add to this conversation.
-app103 (July 07, 2014, 04:14 AM)

I think I missed something here...

wraith808 · « **Reply #596 on:** July 07, 2014, 09:20 AM »

^^ Can surveillance be addictive? I hadn't known that.
-PabloSaulw (July 05, 2014, 12:10 AM)

I think it's probably more along the lines of being addicted to power, and surveillance just being a tool of power.

And then a little splash of voyeurism to boot!
-Renegade (July 06, 2014, 01:46 AM)

Or perhaps you have quoted someone addicted to forum spamming, who had nothing of real value to add to this conversation.
-app103 (July 07, 2014, 04:14 AM)

I think I missed something here...
-40hz (July 07, 2014, 07:30 AM)

The post that they are referring to has been removed, because it was a spammer.

Renegade · « **Reply #597 on:** July 07, 2014, 09:23 AM »

The post that they are referring to has been removed, because it was a spammer.
-wraith808 (July 07, 2014, 09:20 AM)

That post actually wasn't spam. It was a valid response. I only quoted a bit. Perhaps he spammed elsewhere - I didn't see that.

wraith808 · « **Reply #598 on:** July 07, 2014, 10:27 AM »

The post that they are referring to has been removed, because it was a spammer.
-wraith808 (July 07, 2014, 09:20 AM)

That post actually wasn't spam. It was a valid response. I only quoted a bit. Perhaps he spammed elsewhere - I didn't see that.
-Renegade (July 07, 2014, 09:23 AM)

It was a possibly valid response, which is why I didn't report it... but it did have the cadence and grammatical organization of a typical spam reply... it just fit this particular thread. I was assuming it was a spammer since (a) the user is removed (b) the post is removed and (c) we can't remove our own posts.

PabloSaulw

Renegade · « **Reply #599 on:** July 15, 2014, 10:19 PM »

In case anyone missed this:

https://firstlook.or...ek-control-internet/

Hacking Online Polls and Other Ways British Spies Seek to Control the Internet

Lots there.

But have a look at this one:

• “Ability to spoof any email address and send email under that identity” (CHANGELING)

This is particularly worrying.

Spoofing email is pretty easy, but I don't think they're talking about that. These guys are GOOD at what they do. My gut tells me that this is throwing in spoofing IP addresses to hijack traffic routing. That's a pretty damn bad thing... Combined with their other capabilities, this is pretty terrifying.