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Getting Some Rays: Z-Backscatter Technology in Action

In fact, I wonder why it is Skype that would have to provide this functionality rather than the feds going straight to the ISP. I thought ISPs had thus far bent over backwards to let the FBI into their networks for monitoring purposes.

Probably because Skype uses encryption on all connections. But since the encryption is negotiated purely between the communicating hosts, Skype itself is unable to break it.
 
J Allen

Because it's too easy to simply walk all over civil rights in the name of security.

Exactly, and time and time again, we've seen this happen

This latest revelation is utterly atrocious. People should be angry. They should be demanding this be shut down now.

Of course they should, it's unconstitutional.
 
^
It is unconstitutional and people should demand it be shut down...they won't at least not in masses...the problem is in this day and age people are more than willing to reveal every detail about their lives for attention...granted it is mostly young people...but this is what is disturbing...you have a young generation more than willing to post detailed info and half naked images of themselves online...if they don't get how dangerous that is...do you think they care if the government is keeping tabs? I am surprised an older generation isn't up in arms about this...then again society as a whole has gotten lazy and careless.
 
Robert Maxwell,

Given that we haven't outlawed things like strong encryption

Actually, there have been proposals to require all encryption used in the private-sector to have back-doors installed

Short of going around and actually arresting people for creating such software there is no way you could prevent it from being implemented. And if the code got out into the wild there isn't a damn thing the government could realistically do to stop it.

Actually, didn't this administration pass a cyber-security bill that gave them the authority to shut-down parts of the internet?


The Blur,

It is unconstitutional and people should demand it be shut down...they won't at least not in masses

Of course, they've either bought into one of the following: The fear-mongering that the government needs all this power or we'll get attacked somehow and we'll all die; they feel powerless to change it, and thus feel no motivation to protest, contact legislators (especially when they're up for election); or believe that since so much information is on the net, there's no point in trying to advocate for privacy since privacy's dead.

e problem is in this day and age people are more than willing to reveal every detail about their lives for attention...

Lots of people want to be celebrities, though ironically celebrities often complain of the fact that they have no privacy.

granted it is mostly young people...but this is what is disturbing...you have a young generation more than willing to post detailed info and half naked images of themselves online...if they don't get how dangerous that is...do you think they care if the government is keeping tabs?

Most young people don't even realize why privacy is important. Knowledge is power, and not everybody's going to use that knowledge in your best interest; some might use it against you.

I am surprised an older generation isn't up in arms about this...

Me too actually

then again society as a whole has gotten lazy and careless.

I wouldn't say that. I think the way they feel is powerless, and looking at the events over the past 9 years explain it. Constant fear-mongering, routine abuse of power, and the fact that the government has grown increasingly disconnected from the public will, and less responsive to what the American public want.

The American population also feel overloaded. The economy isn't doing good, so they're just trying to hold down a job -- survival mode kicks in, and civil rights tend to fall under desires and wants, rather than needs which they are.

I would also note that the fact that we live in a point and click world doesn't help things, but is not the only cause. The sad fact is that people have been deluded into thinking that everything can be done effortlessly, and from the comfort of our desk or our phones.
 
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