The Big Brother Thread

[davidbfpo]

First up a NYT article 'New Technologies Give Government Ample Means to Track Suspects, Study Finds', which refer to a Harvard report due out today and is sharp retort to officialdom's frequent doom-laden statements:

Now, a study in which current and former intelligence officials participated concludes that the warning is wildly overblown, and that a raft of new technologies — like television sets with microphones and web-connected cars — are creating ample opportunities for the government to track suspects, many of them worrying.

Link to NYT:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/us...tudy-finds.htm

Link to report (37 pgs):https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/pubrel...ark_Debate.pdf

[davidbfpo]

From a newly found CT blog an article that sets out to:

To understand the utility of bulk communications data in intelligence and CT, you first need to re-consider the needle/haystack analogy typically used when discussing intelligence agency use of bulk datasets.

(He ends with) contrary to Binney’s evidence – bulk communications data does and should play a critical role in the work of UK intelligence agencies.

Link:https://counterterrorismmatters.word...ll-submission/

[davidbfpo]

A short commentary by a good journalist, Paul Lashmar and subtitled:

These pieces of research indicate a pattern of behavioural change that dampens dissent and resistance to overbearing power, both of which are hallmarks of an active democratic citizenry.

(He concludes) In culmination all these pieces of research are indicating a pattern of behavioural change that dampens dissent and resistance to overbearing power, both of which are hallmarks of an active democratic citizenry. What this suggests to me is that that the terrorists have won another unexpected if particular blow against liberal democracy as it is superseded by a security state.

Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/paul-lashmar/undigested-snowden?

[Bill Moore]

Good post David, this touches on my previous arguments that we need to reassess our view of risk. Our reaction to terrorism is a self inflicted extential risk on our way of life. We need to think harder about the risks associated with our security measures.

[davidbfpo]

That is my title after this rather startling Lawfare article, which cites Attorney-General Holder:

I think that he actually performed a public service by raising the debate that we engaged in and by the changes that we made...

Link:https://www.lawfareblog.com/three-ye...ence-community

A statement I expect Snowden's lawyers will use should he ever leave Moscow; especially as the A-G has laid charges against him.

Or former NSA Director Michael Hayden:

..although the public cannot be briefed on everything, there has to be enough out there so that the majority of the population believe what they are doing is acceptable.

[davidbfpo]

The UK's Surveillance Camera Commissioner, an ex-CT detective, has a new report out and is concerned how society is changing:

The privacy of the public is at risk of being invaded on a mass scale without its consent as the collection of big data meshes with proliferation of video surveillance...What most worries me is the impact of big data and integration of video surveillance.....

Link:https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...illance-merge?

An academic commentary, with many links:https://theconversation.com/if-surveillance-cameras-are-to-be-kept-in-line-the-rules-will-have-to-keep-pace-with-technology-74271?

I note that since the last post in August 2016 this thread has gone from 15,541 to 53,728 views. Someone is reading this thread.