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I don't think my sentiments are "assinine", thank you :) The FBI has legitimate reasons to want to intercept communications, e.g., to try to prevent organized
by neilc 16y ago
I don't think my sentiments are "assinine", thank you :)
The FBI has legitimate reasons to want to intercept communications, e.g., to try to prevent organized crime and domestic terrorism. While most people would probably support the FBI's interest in doing that, they would also agree that infringing on privacy is bad. So we have a complicated tradeoff, and a system of checks and balances -- and that system might potentially be greatly effected by widespread crypto.
The idea that only privacy rights have any value is just naive IMHO, and it is unsurprising that most people don't believe that.
- DennisP 16y agoI might be (very) slightly more sympathetic to that argument if the FBI were not currently raiding the homes of antiwar activists: http://news.antiwar.com/2010/09/24/fbi-launching-mass-raids-of-antiwar-activists-homes/ http://news.antiwar.com/2010/09/24/fbi-launching-mass-raids-...
- CWuestefeld 16y agoOur security is important, but nothing is more important than our freedom. Thus, the powers of law enforcement must exist in the spaces between our freedoms, and not encroach, forcing us to alter our behavior for their convenience. Surely it would be more convenient to law enforcement if they had DNA samples and fingerprints from the entire population, but that's not going to happen. In some ways, demanding the "right" to eavesdrop is even more pernicious, because it's interfering with our freedom to speak and associate with those we choose -- one of our most cherished freedoms. And like at least one other commenter mentioned, the government has a clear track record of abusing such powers. I'll add another to that list, their abuse of the Echelon system. One of Echelon's primary roles has been to gather industrial espionage from European companies for US ones, say some intelligence experts. The French were said to have lost a $6bn contract for Airbus with the Saudi government to Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, thanks to Echelon intercepts of faxes and telephone calls. ...The [British Parliament] report warned businesses and ordinary individuals that they are being spied on and that users should encrypt their e-mails. It said: "That a global system for intercepting communications exists ... is no longer in doubt. They do tap into private, civilian and corporate communications." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/secrecy-spy-satellites-and-a-conspiracy-of-silence-the-disturbing-truth-about-echelon-686389.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/secrecy-spy-s...