The NSA's Harvest

[saturdayindex]

In keeping with the theme of surveillance and ominous sound of Boards of Canada's latest album, and with their negative stance toward the Internet and governmental intrusion (for example, their sympathy toward victims of the Waco incident), take a look at this image and accompanying article just published by the Guardian. Apparently, the NSA has been secretly wire-tapping--harvesting--every single communication between American users of the Verizon telecom company, Microsoft, Apple, and Google, as well as other controllers of media communications, for five years, and is continuing to do so. Enough said, I'll let you draw your own conclusions:



Read more here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data

In my opinion, this is harrowing. Even if someone has nothing to hide, it's still an invasion of their privacy. The lack of general outrage toward this matter is unsettling.

What is your stance on this, Twoismers? Do you think this ties in directly with BOC's views?

[A_Northern_Soul]

It's horrendous, obviously, but I'm not sure why it's seen as a shock revelation. I'd be surprised if it hadn't being going on a lot longer.

There are plenty stories about phone users back in the eighties in the UK being able to hear a little click on the line if certain words were used - a sign that the spooks were tuning in.

*checks out window for black Omegas*

[saturdayindex]

It's horrendous, obviously, but I'm not sure why it's seen as a shock revelation. I'd be surprised if it hadn't being going on a lot longer.

There are plenty stories about phone users back in the eighties in the UK being able to hear a little click on the line if certain words were used - a sign that the spooks were tuning in.

*checks out window for black Omegas*

You're right, it may not be incredibly surprising, but i found the symbolism of the PRISM campaign (with the hexagons and all!) and the whole deal to be somewhat in line with the new album and some of their general ideas.

[Cupz]

I am mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore!

[Treefingers]

In my opinion, this is harrowing. Even if someone has nothing to hide, it's still an invasion of their privacy. The lack of general outrage toward this matter is unsettling.

I can't understand the sort of thinking of "if you've got nothing to hide, why worry?", when it's a clear case of people who are supposed to work for the people coldly asserting power over them (and doing more damage than good, in the process). It's terrifying how that sort of view is becoming more widespread and accepted amongst ordinary people: Theresa May over here considering scrapping the Human Rights act was welcomed by some, simply because criminals have them; the increasingly disturbing growth of fascist opinions...

How does any mind with a level of basic rationality and compassion reach the conclusion that the best way to combat terrorism is to terrorise ordinary people?

[Cupz]

When Hitler was standing on that balcony yelling about god knows what, I can only bet a large number of Jews said "Let him have his say, we've got nothing to hide". Eventually they had to hide THEMSELVES. You don't have to hide anything NOW as being a certain type of person is not a criminal act YET.

What if, say, hypothetically, (so this is an example) listening to Boards of Canada becomes severely frowned upon over the next 5 years. That's not going to stop me listening to it, its only going to make me hide my activity for doing so, and bam, suddenly I have something to hide, and suddenly its quite impossible to hide anything anymore as the FBI, the CIA, the GIABD, the NPLOPD, the KAFKA, the ZFFTD3.3.11, the ORPPPEEGAGGEFYKLAAMNSSD and every fucking organisation with a bit of money will be peer into my computer activity. Defend your constitutional protected rights! No one else will do it for you!

[saturdayindex]

When Hitler was standing on that balcony yelling about god knows what, I can only bet a large number of Jews said "Let him have his say, we've got nothing to hide". Eventually they had to hide THEMSELVES. You don't have to hide anything NOW as being a certain type of person is not a criminal act YET.

What if, say, hypothetically, (so this is an example) listening to Boards of Canada becomes severely frowned upon over the next 5 years. That's not going to stop me listening to it, its only going to make me hide my activity for doing so, and bam, suddenly I have something to hide, and suddenly its quite impossible to hide anything anymore as the FBI, the CIA, the GIABD, the NPLOPD, the KAFKA, the ZFFTD3.3.11, the ORPPPEEGAGGEFYKLAAMNSSD and every fucking organisation with a bit of money will be peer into my computer activity. Defend your constitutional protected rights! No one else will do it for you!

Well said Cupz.

[mechanismj]

Yes, well said. Also, not surprised at all. I'll bet there's worse shit going on that we won't hear about for a little bit longer.

[wwbjd]

Wait, this is real? I thought this was part of the BoC ARG.

[pianoforte]

When Hitler was standing on that balcony yelling about god knows what, I can only bet a large number of Jews said "Let him have his say, we've got nothing to hide". Eventually they had to hide THEMSELVES. You don't have to hide anything NOW as being a certain type of person is not a criminal act YET.

What if, say, hypothetically, (so this is an example) listening to Boards of Canada becomes severely frowned upon over the next 5 years. That's not going to stop me listening to it, its only going to make me hide my activity for doing so, and bam, suddenly I have something to hide, and suddenly its quite impossible to hide anything anymore as the FBI, the CIA, the GIABD, the NPLOPD, the KAFKA, the ZFFTD3.3.11, the ORPPPEEGAGGEFYKLAAMNSSD and every fucking organisation with a bit of money will be peer into my computer activity. Defend your constitutional protected rights! No one else will do it for you!

Well said Cupz.

Agreed.

From the Guardian article:

Microsoft -- which is currently running an advertising campaign with the slogan "Your privacy is our priority" -- was the first [to connect with PRISM], with collection beginning in December 2007.

Another reason why I use Linux.

[pianoforte]

http://prism-break.org/

[Julian Candy]

The government only cares about the voice of the people if it can be used for their own benefit.

Keep the guards at the borders and we'll take care of the inside.

That's all I have to say.

[fujee]

Depressing, is anything sacred?

[7T]

Major respect for people like Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning who give up nearly everything to inform the public.

[Betterthanyourkids]

The government only cares about the voice of the people if it can be used for their own benefit.

Keep the guards at the borders and we'll take care of the inside.

That's all I have to say.

Took the words out of my mouth. IMO we should be more concerned about who's going in and out rather than who's already here. Total bullshit.

[Waterbagel]

Yes, well said. Also, not surprised at all. I'll bet there's worse shit going on that we won't hear about for a little bit longer.

It really shouldn't be a surprise. There was, of course, Project ECHELON a couple of decades ago.

[circleofthesun]

I'm not super surprised, not at all actually, especially considering this is being done under the Patriot Act and FISA.
However, it has prompted me to consider making the switch to TOR browsing (pianoforte, that list was also helpful)

[Mexicola]

Check out this piece in the The Guardian. The concept of '3 hops' is an interesting one. The Guardian have perhaps been slightly liberal with their maths,but just based on Facebook contacts alone, that would be somewhere around 6 MILLION people that the NSA consider fair game - purely if they consider little old me the potential 'issue'.

[mechanismj]

Obama orders NSA to stop spying on the IMF and World Bank Headquarters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/ ... EQ20131031

If that doesn't tell you something about the state of things...

[pianoforte]

FBI can secretly turn on laptop cameras without the indicator light