2/21 Read ~boss/Clipper for info on the clipper chip, and for a chance
to add your name to a petition against it.
\_ The issue of whether the government has a legal right to
monitor communications (with the proper search warrant)
is clouded and ignored by bandying about terms like
"big brother" and "facist." It's ludicrous to think that
the government will monitor *more* communications if
Clipper passes.
\_ It's not ludicrous at all. Monitoring resources are
costly. If Clipper is easier -- cheaper -- to monitor
than alternative technologies, than the government
can listen in more than they would otherwise. Even
totalitarians are subject to economics...
\_ Encryption now: none.
Ease of tapping: easy.
Encryption with Clipper: some.
Ease of tapping: Less.
This isn't brain surgery. The government isn't asking
for anything it doesn't already have. Deal with the
real issues instead of fear-mongering.
\_ In addition, clipper will fool people into thinking
they're safe when they aren't...so communications
that were thought too important to trust to the net
before will become open to the government.
\_ Not without a search warrant.
\_ No, Clipper will fool *stupid* people into
thinking they're safe. There's a difference.
\_ It could be argues that Clipper provides increased privacy
since it gives cell phone makers, etc. free encryption
with no r&d costs. I'd prefer knowing the line was secure
from everyone buty the cops than open to anyone who knows
what frequency to listen in on...
\_ You're assuming that this wonderful algorithm that the
NSA came up with is a good one. Since it's so secret,
it could be total bullshit for all anyone knows...although
far be it for me to imply that the government is somehow
able to make mistakes...
\_ With the incredibly quick advances
in technology, nothing is secure for more than
a decade or two. |
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