The Ek’s Files

ars technica has an interesting review of an IEEE Security & Privacy article that argues that the massive electronic surveillance being drooled over by U.S. security agencies in the name of national security has the very real potential for making us less secure rather than safer. The issue is that, as massive amounts of data are accumulated and mined by our own intelligence forces, that same data becomes an attractive target for hostile intelligence agencies to use against us if they can compromise it. Laugh if you want, but the article further discusses the likelihood of that happening and provides examples of where it’s already happened. Also discussed are the “primitive” methods and procedures used by our intelligence agencies to safeguard their surveillance methods and data. There’s not really much I can add to the article, except to ask: do you think anyone in the government will take this concern seriously? I’m not holding my breath.

If you’ve been reading any of my curmudgeonly opines here, you know that I lack trust in our government’s efforts to keep us secure. The degree to which our private lives are being invaded in the name of national security causes me significant concern. The Bill of Rights attached to our Constitution was an absolute requirement for adoption by the States, demonstrating that the people had a deep fear of government that had power to do more than serve at the will of the people. The government was prohibited from suppressing speech and ideas; was not allowed to search and seize property without just cause; could not force a man to incriminate himself; could not impose or restrict religious practices; and could not disarm the populace. Clearly, the power of the government was meant to be in the hands of its citizens.

Yet, our national security agencies are making plans for surveillance on a scale never before experienced in this country–monitoring all internet traffic and any other electronic data they can get their hands on, all in the name of keeping us safe. It escapes me how a court order can be required for the police to open my mail or listen to my phone calls, but yet this sort of massive warrantless eavesdropping is somehow legal. Will you feel safer knowing that everything you do is being watched? I have no desire to be as safe as that.