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Gator CPO at the Department of Homeland Security

Posted by samzenpus on from the fox-in-the-hen-house dept.

pcidevel writes "D. Reed Freeman, the "Chief Privacy Officer" of Claria Networks (formerly Gator), the creators of the pervasive spyware package GAIN, has been appointed to the Department of Homeland Security's "Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee"."

41 of 846 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm... I've an analogy for this... by Svartalf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't this like putting a fox in charge of the security for a henhouse?

    Honestly... DHS doesn't need to be worrying about this sort of tripe- they've got bigger fish to fry. Why in the HELL are they bothering with this when the things they're doing right at the moment wouldn't have done a damn thing to prevent 9/11 from occuring and wouldn't prevent a repeat?

    --
    I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
  2. Makes sense (in a sick sort of way) by Javert42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who knows more about data privacy than somebody who has compromised the privacy of millions?

    --
    =\/\/= If it's too loud, turn it down.
    1. Re:Makes sense (in a sick sort of way) by bigberk · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Who knows more about data privacy than somebody who has compromised the privacy of millions?
      I see what you're getting at, but I really don't think it applies in this case. Sure, blackhats / crackers make excellent security professionals who can apply their skills positively. But note that these are always people who first and foremost were interested in technical skills and intellectual stimulation from pushing security systems.

      On the other hand, the people who go into the field of marketing have one well defined goal: to manipulate and deceive consumers for profit. I have studied alongside these people when I made the huge mistake of wanting to take some marketing courses. The ideas I learned and people I met literally made me sick to my stomach.

      I do not know a single marketing person who is in it for academic interest -- those people tend to be psychologists. Marketers are business oriented and highly profit motivated to the extent where everything else (privacy, ethics, environment, culture) take back seat. These people sell their souls in pursuit of money.

      You might think I'm exaggerating. But look at the specific people in question. Who works at DoubleClick or Gator, unless they have a genuine professional interest in the wide reaching manipulation of the public for profit sake? I really have zero confidence in these people's s ability to make an honest, well meaning effort towards the rights and privacy of consumers and citizens.
  3. talk about oxymoron by bersl2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee"

    "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."

  4. There's No Bottom by Ray+Radlein · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I miss those heady days of yore, when there was still room for more outrage in my life. When I could stil be surprised by new examples of indifference, incompetence, and outright evil.

    These days, I am no longer surprised at no longer being surprised by the ghastly things this Administration routinely does.

    1. Re:There's No Bottom by Monkelectric · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Yea, what is WITH this "fox guarding the hen house" complex the bush admin has?

      We have oil execs writing our energy policy, privacy invaders writing our privacy laws. Drug companies writing our drug-company laws... It's absolute madness.

      Are there any bushies out there who can defend this and tell me why I shouldn't be having a fit?

      --

      Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

    2. Re:There's No Bottom by rhizome · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When all you have are foxes, everything looks like a henhouse.

      --
      When I was a kid, we only had one Darth.
  5. Claria has a Chief Privacy Officer? by Garabito · · Score: 4, Insightful
    It sounds as authentic as The Ministry of Truth.

    Actually, "Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee" sounds much more like Ministry of Truth.

    1. Re:Claria has a Chief Privacy Officer? by bigberk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm actually very relieved that slashdot readership recognizes, as I do, the intense parallels to Orwell's 1984 (Newspeak, doublespeak, etc.) This is encouraging as right now our society is still free thinking enough to see the attempts at manipulating us for what they are -- ridiculous lies to the public. There is cause for concern though, this is how it starts, and by the time it has caught on (unchallenged) people are no longer aware of the daily irony, and satire turns into daily life.

  6. Only in America by AmoHongos · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A spyware company has a "chief privacy officer?!" What's next, a security-obssessed government that makes us less secure? Oh, wait...

    Seriously, though, I can almost see the logic in this appointment. One thing spyware companies know is computer security. They defeat it all the time. I'm surprised the fine folks from Cool Web Search weren't appointed.

    On the other hand, the more cynical side of me sees how reminiscent this is of early 20th century American politics, when the government appointed Big Business leaders to commitees on workers' rights. Money and connections will buy you anything.

    1. Re:Only in America by demachina · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "What's next, a security-obssessed government that makes us less secure?"

      Reference the rhetoric from great Britain this week. They are in the run up to an election and Blair is fighting for his life. Blair apparently took some pages out of the Bush play book and it makes it so transparent when you see another government doing exactly the same thing the Republican's just did, stoke massive fear right before an election to win reelection.

      - Tony Blair quotes: "Nothing must stand in the way of protecting the security of our people."
      - They are trying to ram through yet another variant of the Patriot act "The Bill introduces "control orders" which will enable the Home Secretary to stop terror suspects travelling or using phones and the internet - without the need for a trial.". It may allow indefinite home detention of anyone the Home Secretary unilaterally decides is a threat to security.
      - Before the House of Commons Blair said: Britain was facing "terrorism without limit" and "those considerations of national security have to come before civil liberties however important they are".

      The cynics in the crowd suspect Blair's party is doing the same thing the Republican's did with he Patriot act to the Dems, they have to vote for it no matter how onerous it is or Blair's party will accuse them of being soft on terrorism. So either the party in power gets sweeping new powers or they make their opponents look weak and take a potential bath in the election.

      Its amazing this works because me, given a clear choice, I'd vote for the party protecting my civil liberties over ineffective security laws.

      --
      @de_machina
  7. do something about it... by epanastasi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    All I see posted are stupid remarks about how ironic this is... but nobody seems to want to do anything about it.

    /. has enough people reading it to destroy the bandwidth of half the servers out there, but it looks like nobody is going to take this as a serious threat to privacy and call up their congressman or write a letter/email to major news networks, or anything else that will change things...

    It's a sad day seeing this article exist, but it will be an even sadder day when 90% of these comments are scored "Funny" and we are doomed to sit idly by our world is taken away from us... thanks guys, i appreciate it.

    1. Re:do something about it... by luvirini · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, the thing is. Too many people who read ./ are cynics. As it seem to be the normal thing for anyone who actually thinks about the world. I think quite many people here used to be fired up by things when they were young, but lost that fire when the world just got crazier and crazier. That was actually my path, and judging by the comments modded insightfull in general, things that have highest probability of being modded that are cynically-insightfull.

    2. Re:do something about it... by Mark_MF-WN · · Score: 5, Insightful
      And what would you have people do? Lots of us DO email, write, and telephone our representatives. But no letter, phonecall, or email has even a fraction of the power that a $10,000 "campaign contribution" does.

      Campaign contributions mean that political representation goes to those with the most money to donate. Democracy died long ago.

    3. Re:do something about it... by Vo0k · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Already happened. Face it: We lost it already. No amount of calling will supersede a well placed "donation". No amount of cries will change the fact that the people at power will take really good care that ALL the presidential candidates sit deep in their pockets, and no matter who gets elected, power remains in the same hands. Democracy is dead, elections are just a meaningless circus for entertainment of the public, the real power is at hands of those with real money.

      --
      Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"
    4. Re:do something about it... by Mac+Degger · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is sadly too true: the moment campaign contributions were classified as 'free speech', the rich people effectively had more than one vote, and democracy as most people understand it these days has gone down the toilet in the US.

      With all the wierd shit going down, I really don't get why there hasn't been more demonstrations or even a revolution across the pond...

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    5. Re:do something about it... by notAyank · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You guys, you have the right to bear arms. For some reason you mostly seem to think it's the right to bear arms against your fellow citizens. It's not. It's the right to bear arms against tyranny of government. Am I ringing any bells?

    6. Re:do something about it... by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I really don't get why there hasn't been more demonstrations or even a revolution across the pond...

      Because 90% of us are mindless sheep. Doing exactly what our leader tells us.

      Americans on average are the stupidest population center on this planet. We send our kids to schools that are ineffective, graduate young adults that can not read, we have a 68% return rate on our "rehabilitated criminals" and the typical american is driven into a furvor of fear and convinced that driving an unsafe huge vehicle makes us safer.

      We are complete and utter MORONS. I hang my head in disgust every day at what I see my fellow americans say and do.

      What makes you think that this nation of very stupid sheep that takes what is fed to them as 100% truth would have the guts and desire to rise up and force change??

      we are too comfortable with our 8mpg SUV's out 2500+sq foot houses and our 300 channel cable tv telling how scary it is outside and we should stay in where it is safe.

      The governemtn is protecting us, why should we question them?

      I'm going to go puke....

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    7. Re:do something about it... by notAyank · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, I'm not so sure about that. Of course, if you ever do resist your government in the name of freedom (real freedom, not the current administration's definition of it) you will be branded terrorists. With respect to your comment about "hicks": I used to think that American militia groups were out of their minds. Now I'm beginning to wonder.

  8. Rewarding incompetence, as usual by godless+dave · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What do you expect? George Tenet got a medal for being wrong about WMDs in Iraq; Paul Bremer got one for ignoring warnings about the Iraqi insurgency; and Condaleeza Rice got promoted for ignoring warnings about Al Qaeda and being wrong about Iraq. This administration rewards incompetence and duplicity while punishing competence and honesty.

    --
    "If it's real, then it gets more interesting the closer you examine it. If it's not real, just the opposite is true." -
    1. Re:Rewarding incompetence, as usual by hachete · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Your Bush administration rewards loyalty to Bush. That is all. Anything else is purely secondary. An administration of sycophants, toadies and suckups. Truly, what an example to set the world and the kids of today.

      --
      Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious
    2. Re:Rewarding incompetence, as usual by HangingChad · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I'm always amazed when Bush supporters act like they're part of some noble cause, some grand struggle that takes them down the road less traveled.

      Regardless of his motives you can let the results speak for themselves. We've spent 300 billion on a war they told us would cost 50 billion at the most, supposedly for WMD's but there weren't any. And we're still sinking 4 billion a month into that hole with no end in sight. The No Child Left Behind act was based on the Houston Miracle, which later turned out to be faked data. Since Bush took office we've seen our government go into massive debt, seen more American jobs shipped overseas than any other time in the history of the country, we've watched our personal liberties and freedoms disappear and watched our relationship with foreign allies and our position in the world deteriorate.

      For those who claim the mantel of Christianity this administration certainly has no love of the truth. They lie because they're being true to their character when they do so.

      Perhaps it's you who should think about re-examining your committment to the truth.

      --
      That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
  9. Re:First Post by Senjutsu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This might almost make sense if this guy had served in a technical capacity with Claria/Gator, but here's his job description, from a press-release they put out upon hiring him:

    Claria Corporation, www.claria.com, today announced that D. Reed Freeman, Jr. will assume the position of Chief Privacy Officer and Vice President of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the company. Mr. Freeman, a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm Collier Shannon Scott, PLLC, will spearhead Claria's continued commitment to industry-leading online advertising privacy practices. He will also represent Claria's interests both in Washington and internationally, coordinating Claria's efforts on policy matters.

    In other words, he's a lobbyist. He knows fuck all about the inner workings of spyware software, and this isn't at all analogous to hiring an ex-hacker to evaluate your security.

  10. and in other news by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mr. Osamma Bin Ladin is appointed the head of the homeland defence department.... I mean, who better to tell us how a terrorist thinks?

    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
    1. Re:and in other news by Quothz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Claria and other similar companies have a legal business
      I disagree. They just haven't been shut down yet.
      To wit: Let's say I call up a particularly dim secretary at IBM. I claim to be with a consulting firm, and need access to certain files. This person gives me the password to his or her boss' account. I log in and copy everything I can get my hands on.
      When tried, I explain that I had permission from a company representative to take those files. This would probably not go over well.
      Claria uses similar tactics, taking advantage of stupid people by making vague statements, in order to gain access to private information. In my mind, there's little difference. EULAs require a greater level of literacy than many computer users possess; taking advantage of this fact is, in my opinion, not a legal method of doing business.

  11. Re:uh.. by d474 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A former Corporate data gatherer of consumer information being appointed to "Data Privacy" Czar?

    Why, that would be like appointing a Torture Advocate to Attorney General...oh wait...Alberto Gonazales

    That would be iike appointing a person that misadvised a Nation to start a war that broke down International Relations to a postion that requires her to Strengthen International Relations...oh wait...Condeleeza Rice

    That would be like having a former CEO of company that derives it's revenue from war be elected to a political office that can Strongly influence War Power making decisions...oh wait...Dick Cheney

    To answer your question, no they aren't shitting you. They are shitting ON you. All of us, actually.

    --
    Authority questions you. Return the favor.
  12. RMS might be helpful by r6144 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Given his enormous software knowledge, RMS can probably identify more prior arts in patent applications than the average patent examiner, thus striking down more of these applications.

    Unfortunately, I think quite a lot of patent applications cover ideas that any expert can think of in three hours but were never used before because no one apart from the applicant bothered to use them, which means they probably have no prior art. A patent examiner cannot do much more than an ordinary citizen when the problem lies in the law itself rather than its enforcement.

  13. I get it by Brandybuck · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I get it. It's like when a company hires a black hat to help them figure out where the holes are so they can plug them...

    --
    Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
  14. Re:Hmm... I've an analogy for this... by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 4, Insightful
    You are part of the new "ownership society". This means your status of 'citizen' is now exchanged for the much more valuable cosideration as 'customer'!

    I'm sure you'll appreciate the opportunity to abandon 'community' for 'market', once you see the incredible opportunity it affords for profits! Besides, we have already managed the deal for you!

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  15. And people wonder why... by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And people wonder why HST blew his brains out.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  16. Re:CNET News.com by Raul+Acevedo · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Salon.com requires a soul-sucking registration link.

    Oh please grow up.

    It may come as a complete shock to some people here, but some companies have to make a living somehow. And some of those companies, like Salon.com, have been struggling for quite a while and are not hyper-rich media conglomerates who can afford to not try whatever they can to make an honest living.

    You do not have a God-given right to free content provided at the expense of the work of others. (And no I don't care if Salon.com didn't write the original article, they provide plenty of home brewed articles and opinion which I think are totally worth it.) Deal with it.

    --
    In a real emergency, we would have all fled in terror, and you would not have been notified.
  17. It's a kleptocracy!! by johansalk · · Score: 5, Insightful


    "I am proud of, supportive of and grateful for those individuals in the public and private sector who are willing to take on the hard tasks, fight the good fight, and who surprise us with creative, fresh and unconventional thinking, and who make change where change is needed through their hard work and personal dedication," Kelly said. Kelly said Freeman will "bring his courage and conviction to the board, and will contribute productively--and constructively--to the board's and the public's dialogue on privacy and homeland security."

    What I find most outrageous is such talk typical of this administration to lie, and lie, and lie; So now a software that installed itself without permission, was not easy to delete, and annoyed the hell out of people is something to be praised for and proud of as testimony of "courage and conviction", "willingness to take on the hard tasks", "willingness to fight the good fight", "creative, fresh and unconventional thinking"?

    What about thieves? They're pretty much the same; are we going to admire trespassers and looters?

    Damn this kleptocracy; damn it!

  18. Re:EULA by randallpowell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Perfect. The person in charge of a large spyware company is in charge of network security for our nation? What is next? A promoter of torture as Attorney General?

  19. Re:Committee member list by IceRa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Looks like they need some sort of "black sheep" in the committee. Or a dim candle around all these bright ones...

    Greetings, Ice

    --
    Sig? Where I go, I don't need ... sigs.
  20. It's not so bad by jim_v2000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    GAIN acually happens to be one of the less malevolent pieces of adware. It does not install itself, it doesn't do pop-ups, it doesn't hijack your machine. It's a legit piece of advertising that software authors use to make money off their programs. (Kazaa for example) If you don't want it, read your EULA's before installing those free screen savers.

    --
    Don't take life so seriously. No one makes it out alive.
  21. Re:CNET News.com by Colonel+Cholling · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Honestly i wouldn't care if all the ad-supported content left the internet.

    Would the author of this post, and everyone who modded him "Interesting," please look up at the top of your browser window and tell me what you see?

    --

    I am Sartre of the Borg. Existence is futile.
  22. Re:Hmm... I've an analogy for this... by kalidasa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not customer, consumer. A customer expects service. A consumer just devourers whatever is shoved down his throat.

  23. Re:The Onion by sexistentialist · · Score: 4, Insightful

    People here are starting to look like the Grunts in Halo, running around with their hands above their heads, screaming, "the demon is here!"

    While I agree that the appointment is disturbing, it doesn't mean that the government is going to install spyware onto every machine and start doing as they see fit. How many of you use some technology (Norton, AdBlock) to limit the amount of advertisements and popups you receive during the day? How many people do you think sniff the traffic coming off of their machine and make sure it's all as expected?

    The instant that something appears on your PC someone else will know about it and there will be an endless number of FAQs on how to make it benign.

    Remember that we're in the US, but PCs are global. You may find yourself feeling grateful to the hacker/cracker/crypto community at large for the work they'll be doing in the future to protect your privacy.

    --
    Adrian Goins - President / CEO
    Arces Network, LLC
  24. didn't you get the memo? by Ender+Ryan · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Adultery is a sin greater than any other, even mass murder!

    Seriously, this country is so fucked. There are so many people, mostly pretty extreme religious folk, who listen to anything Bush says as long as he sprinkles his speaches with the words "God," "Faith," etc. Oh, and don't forget, "crusade!"

    It doesn't matter that he's lied. It doesn't matter that the VP's former company is given illegal no-bid contracts. It doesn't matter that the new AG is a supports the use of torture. There is nothing they can do that is evil enough to make the religious right turn away.

    --
    Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
  25. Re:CNET News.com by Colonel+Cholling · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously, what am I supposed to see? I am running Firefox and popup blocking and adblock... so I don't see any ads, if that is what you were referring to.

    Thank you to you and all the other clever people who bragged about your ad-blocking software. Please remember that the poster I quoted said he "wouldn't care if all the ad-supported content left the internet." The mere fact that there are ads there for your oh-so-marvelous Firefox to block means that Slashdot is, in fact, "ad-supported content." Hence the poster, and those who agreed with him, wouldn't mind if Slashdot disappeared. But they like it enough to read it and post here.

    --

    I am Sartre of the Borg. Existence is futile.
  26. Re:This is NOT funny... by Master+of+Transhuman · · Score: 3, Insightful


    The Ukraine?

    I have news for you. The Ukraine election was rigged by the US to put its puppet in charge to further its goals of forcing Russia and China back into a Cold War with the US.

    No, I'm not joking. Read up on the Ukrainian challenger and who his supporters were and their connections to the US and Russian oligarchs.

    There is NOTHING US citizens can do about the US government - unless they're prepared to pick up a gun - which they're not because they're too brainwashed and submissive after two centuries of bullshit about "American democracy". The state is the state and this is the way all states behave.

    You want to do something about it. Advance the rate of technological progress - especially nanotech - so I can obtain the tools I need to provide a Final Solution to these morons.

    --
    Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!