5 ms·

How Clinton’s email scandal took root

38 points by caseysoftware 11y ago

Alex3917 11y ago
So an average of 5-6 threads per day (assuming ~3.75 messages per thread) now qualifies as an unmanageable torrent of email?
aftbit 11y ago
> Because Clinton did not use desktop computers, she relied on her personal BlackBerry, which she had started using three years earlier. I suppose important political figures have aides to handle a lot of mundane tasks for them, but I still find it hard to believe that a major power player in 2016 doesn't use a desktop/laptop to organize information. By the way, enjoy this very vaguely related essay: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/vl/notes/havel.html https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/vl/notes/havel.html
- revelation 11y ago
  Of course, she just doesn't use any PC owned by her because then naturally that is subject to the same disclosure/retention laws. In the same sense that Albright and Rice said they did not use email while at State for the very same reason; they are not technically illiterate, they just don't want their communication public. There have been many cases of people in power not using technology at all: http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2008/09/govs-to-public-stay-out-of-our-e-mail/ http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2008/09/govs-to-public-stay-out...
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
anon987 11y ago
Keep this political bullshit off HN.
- anon98765 11y ago
  ...it's tech related political bullshit?
apalmer 11y ago
hmmm, keeping all politics out of this... seems like she at a minimum she doesn't 'get' technology and didn't understand why this was a big deal at the time. seems pretty clear cut at least that she refused to keep communication hygiene although being repeatedly warned. regardless of however you view her intent seems to at a minimum reflect a profound lack of discipline. without doubt whatever is on those servers is known to every significant power who cares to know. hopefully nothing to important is out there... honestly the biggest risk is probably her being blackmailed left and right with the release of classified information from these servers...
- peteretep 11y ago
  > without doubt whatever is on those servers is known > to every significant power who cares to know Source?
  - apalmer 11y ago
    there is no source for this. just seems reasonable. it was a well used email address by a standing'secretary of state of the united states'... this is definitely a target for world wide intelligence agencies. couple this with the fact it is known that it was improperly configured from a security standpoint for at least a few months... just given the value of the target and the lack of security i am making the assumption that the information is out there.
mark_l_watson 11y ago
That was the best timeline on the subject that I have seen. Personally, I doubt that she did anything overtly illegal, but I think she showed very poor judgement.

38 points by caseysoftware 11y ago

So an average of 5-6 threads per day (assuming ~3.75 messages per thread) now qualifies as an unmanageable torrent of email?

aftbit 11y ago

> Because Clinton did not use desktop computers, she relied on her personal BlackBerry, which she had started using three years earlier. I suppose important political figures have aides to handle a lot of mundane tasks for them, but I still find it hard to believe that a major power player in 2016 doesn't use a desktop/laptop to organize information. By the way, enjoy this very vaguely related essay: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/vl/notes/havel.html https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/vl/notes/havel.html

revelation 11y ago
Of course, she just doesn't use any PC owned by her because then naturally that is subject to the same disclosure/retention laws. In the same sense that Albright and Rice said they did not use email while at State for the very same reason; they are not technically illiterate, they just don't want their communication public. There have been many cases of people in power not using technology at all: http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2008/09/govs-to-public-stay-out-of-our-e-mail/ http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2008/09/govs-to-public-stay-out...
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

anon987 11y ago

Keep this political bullshit off HN.

anon98765 11y ago
...it's tech related political bullshit?

apalmer 11y ago

hmmm, keeping all politics out of this... seems like she at a minimum she doesn't 'get' technology and didn't understand why this was a big deal at the time. seems pretty clear cut at least that she refused to keep communication hygiene although being repeatedly warned. regardless of however you view her intent seems to at a minimum reflect a profound lack of discipline. without doubt whatever is on those servers is known to every significant power who cares to know. hopefully nothing to important is out there... honestly the biggest risk is probably her being blackmailed left and right with the release of classified information from these servers...

peteretep 11y ago
> without doubt whatever is on those servers is known > to every significant power who cares to know Source?
- apalmer 11y ago
  there is no source for this. just seems reasonable. it was a well used email address by a standing'secretary of state of the united states'... this is definitely a target for world wide intelligence agencies. couple this with the fact it is known that it was improperly configured from a security standpoint for at least a few months... just given the value of the target and the lack of security i am making the assumption that the information is out there.

mark_l_watson 11y ago

That was the best timeline on the subject that I have seen. Personally, I doubt that she did anything overtly illegal, but I think she showed very poor judgement.