Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Stop The War On Whistleblowers

Not only do they want to prevent us from knowing about the crimes Bradley Manning exposed, exposures that have led to no negative consequences in terms of national security according to the government, our government isn't allowing us to really know what's happening at his trial.  And the corporate media is going along.  Watch this video supporting him.  When they threaten to kill a person for informing us of incidents that are in the public interest they threaten us with tyranny.  It's not democracy if we aren't allowed to know the relevant information.

7 comments:

Examinator said...

Off topic
jon
have a look at this: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/oliver-stone-history/4787498
CHAD,
NOTE >>>> I'M posting an OBSERVATION.
(period). It DOESN'T Mean I'm drawing any CONCLUSIONS. Ergo no need for you to see it as an attack on your 'views' or evidence of my "Liberalism?" (sic and sic).

Jonathan said...

Examinator,

Interesting link. I'm pretty sure that by definition you can't preemptively "(sic)" someone before they post to the threat though. :-)

Jonathan said...

Here's two interesting links on the kind of picture you can paint of yourself with just "metadata". MIT has a project where you can see for yourself what can be teased out with your own private e-mail (gmail) data.

I haven't done it yet (the server was down due to high traffic) but should be interesting to see the results and how it relates to privacy.

The story:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/01/197632066/an-mit-project-that-lets-you-spy-on-yourself?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=DailyDigest&utm_campaign=20130702

The tool:

https://immersion.media.mit.edu/

Examinator said...

Jonathan,
I've learned something today.
I thought I was (sic)ing MY deliberate use of 2 falsehoods.
Then again many people think I'm sic(k). ;-)

MIT has adapted a well known IT concept. It's part of Relational Data base designing... not surprisingly the way you define relationships between data sets.
The same technique has also been applied to relationships in the meanings of words, a visual (graphic) Thesaurus. The principal is also used on most Crime shows it's the Crime (incident) board.

Yup it's a little frightening when you realize how much details of our lives we give away willingly.
If one was inclined one could do the same by data mapping say 12 months of chatting here and analyse it, you'd be stunned how much 'intel' is in it. As for the social media Strewth!
Being from a security background I can tell if you want intel on a neighbor simply talk to the local children. They see an incredible amount. The trick is to put it altogether.
I.e. if he children see your wife taking the children to school odds are they'll know where either by direct knowledge school uniforms, know someone who goes to the same school. If it's a private school then it's an indicator to the families wealth. Also it give a window of opportunity of when the house is unattended etc.
Simply being seen putting out say X box packaging tell you something. i.e. there's a new X box in the house.

NOTE too
Not all house breakings are drugged out opportunists, nor are they psychopaths looking for their next kill/rape. Many professional crims often steal to order...i.e. they already have a buyer lined up. Not all stolen goods end up at a 'fence' quite the opposite is true. Hence having a firearm in the house won't deter/protect/stop Break and enters. The truth is most occur when the occupant is known to be absent.
Likewise, Alarms are more likely to be a homeowner's equivalent of Linus's security blanket than a real inhibitor.
Most are easy to neutralise or create a distraction elsewhere to occupy he security Guards/police.

Conclusion: the information has always been available to those who really want it. Hence my often used Quote " locks are only to keep honest people honest or to make people FEEL safe."
Collection of the data is not the issue The issue is WHAT the person DOES with it.

Privacy/security are and always have been RELATIVE. Big Brother has always effectively with us... take a small town.

Examinator said...

Folks.
Take a look at this then ask "what are they persecuting Manning for?
"http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-government-has-finally-cut-back-on-national-secrets
Doesn't this say something about the meaningless nature of what Manning leaked?
How many of Manning's type leaked documents would be classified to day?

Examinator said...


Folks
And now a historic and constitutional intention piece on the Spying (illegal seizure of documents... the C18th equivalent/principal of Prism)
http://www.juancole.com/2013/07/unreasonable-documents-revolution.html

Examinator said...

more on the Founding father's views.
“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.”

“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.”

Patrick Henry