We’re bored with the Snowden thing now, aren’t we? I mean the chase has, kind of, stalled. So nothing to see here – let’s all move along.
Except, of course, it really shouldn’t be like this. From what I understand, the UK Government has issued a Section D (I might have this wrong) notice to the British Media – effectively stifling what they can report about it.
Hence, it’s no longer really headlines. Of course, the headlines SHOULD be asking difficult questions of the Government. Asking how come GCHQ (and NSA) are collecting all our data. Asking them when it’s going to stop, etc.
But, don’t worry at all. After all they’re not collecting ALL data. Only the metadata which, by all accounts, doesn’t actually tell you anything much.
Except that’s not even true.
If you have a Gmail account, you can, actually try it (partially) for yourself using Immersion.
And you should. See how your connections are made. Who you email most – how they connect. Of course, you’ve nothing to hide, have you? So it’s not really important, is it?
Well, no, of course not.
But, follow the logic and think about the fact that they’re not just collecting the metadata from Gmail but from all your email accounts (people often have more than one – e.g. a work and a private account).
But that’s OK because if you have something to hide you will just use the telephone.
But, they collect the metadata for that too!
And for the web browsing history you do.
And anything else you do on-line.
It’s a much fuller picture they have of you now, isn’t it?
Are you comfortable with that, ‘cos I’m not?
To see how someone has analysed the Immersion program, go to this rather good piece, here.
Also see the original article, from where all this came, in the Guardian.
But, of course, this is all being done by the “good guys”, isn’t it?
Well, watch the following video:
And now tell me that you’re not just a little scared?
Becoming a hermit has never seemed such a great idea until now, eh?
I wonder when (or even if) Governments will be hounded to do something about it?
I’m not comfortable with it at all!
And I don’t understand why people don’t care much about it.
I really don’t.
ps. thanks for links
Re: the links – it’s a pleasure.
In my opinion, people don’t care because:
a) they’ve seen it all before in the films – it’s not shocking
b) they keep getting told – “if you’ve nothing to hide it’s not a problem” – and they believe that.
c) the reporting is being stifled from the British media by the Section D notice (something about ensuring that “the country” isn’t put in any danger by reporting something that will help our “enemies”.)
d) it’s definitely not anywhere near as exciting as some guy (spy?) being chased around the world (think Bourne Identity and replace Bourne with Snowden).
e) they are told that “all that’s being collected” is the metadata and they think that “if it’s not my email messages, it’s OK”.
f) they get repeatedly told that this will make sure another 9/11 or 7/7 doesn’t happen – and it’s difficult to argue with that (even if it’s not true).
And, I suppose, people are, generally, quite stupid. Unfortunately.
it’s hard to disagree with you.
However, people must have noticed that surveillance is NOT effective against terrorism.
Not really.
There have a couple of prosecutions of “terrorists” who were caught BEFORE they did anything (in the UK). This is reported as a “success” of their monitoring.
Where there have been attacks (such as the Boston Bombing), it is noted, some time after the event, that the security agencies were warned – and then it just disappears from view.
We’ve been lied to for years about how much “safer” we are now. And the Media don’t really help – the DM being one of the worst offenders – headlines calling for more control and more checks. We might as well have lost WWII for the fascist practices now in place – the controlling and checking of the population. And the population walking blindly into it and, via the DM, demanding even more of it!