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Carnegie Mellon Resists FBI Tapping Requirement

roach2002 writes "Carnegie Mellon University is fighting back against a requirement that taps on campus internet access must be quickly obtainable. The technology that would allow the FBI to monitor internet access, after a court order, "at the flip of a switch" would cost at least $450 per student. MIT is also covering the story." From the article: "'The Department of Justice wants 24/7 access, whenever they need it, and they want remote access. We find that too extremely burdensome in terms of money, staff, and technology,' said Maureen McFalls, Director of Government Relations for Carnegie Mellon and the coordinator of Carnegie Mellon's response to this issue. According to an ACE press release, the cost to universities could be upwards of $7 billion, or at least $450 extra on each student's tuition bill."

8 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. So... by Mancat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can I have wire tap access to the Department of Justice's systems, 24/7 with remote access? You know, I just want to make sure that they're not doing anything that they shouldn't be.

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    1. Re:So... by Chaos1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, but the Government requires you to sign an NDA and you have to be fingerprinted, your family and friends interviewed and you have to fill out a short questionairre with stupid questions such as "Are you currently addicted to or using any illegal narcotics". Plus you have to swear your undying allegiance to some goverment agent. Once that's finished it has to be put before committee, signed off by at least three manager level persons and you should recieve a response in about 20-30 years. Of course by then, you'll be up for renewal and get to start the process all over again.

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    2. Re:So... by trygstad · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Plus you have to swear your undying allegiance to some goverment agent.

      Weird thing is, in 21 years of service as an officer in the U.S. Navy, the only thing I ever swore allegiance to was to the Constitution of the United States--to support and defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This is an oath I take very, very seriously. Which is why arbitrary, stupid government requirements like this that appear to tread on Constitutional rights get me REALLY PISSED OFF.

  2. Monitor by Deliveranc3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Terrorism seems to be any act against the U.S. Government, half the population already disagrees with the policy of that government.

    Why should they be allowed to tap into the intellectual centres of their country?

    Universities are the places where revolution has historically started, curtailing student influence merely stops one of the free checks and balances on the system.

  3. Re:This is crazy by mr_stinky_britches · · Score: 5, Insightful

    450$ per student? Is the DOD still using 5000$ hammers as well? This is just as simple as putting in a DSL line for the FBI and a VPN box.

    You're dreamin' pal. There is no way it would be that simple to enable the FBI to monitor the activity of any user on schools network. Maybe that's all you need to VNC into YOUR home machine, but they're talking about a fairly complex system, because they must be 100% positive they are monitoring the right people and the system would also need to be very flexible in order for it to be widely deployed into the diverse permutations of networking environments found in institutions of higher learning throughout the united states.

    nuff' said'
    .

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  4. Privacy is Dead by queenb**ch · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've said this before and probably on slashdot. Privacy is dead. People are just now starting to smell the rotting corpse. This is further proof of that statement.

    The trick with the $450 per student is the cost to design, implement, deploy and maintain a system that will allow the FBI to have what it wants without Joe Hacker having the same access. It's not as easy as it sounds until you deal with a highly mobile and high-turnover student population. I work for a major university. We have approximately 18,000 students. At any given semester (Spring, Summer, or Fall), 4000-5000 of them are leaving and being replaced with 4000-5000 new ones. That doesn't even count the ones that change dorms, move off campus, etc. Now, in addition to a campus ID, network accounts, dorm internet access, email accounts, etc., we're supposed to manage the FBI's wiretaps?????

    ROFL. Item one, we don't have enough staff to really manage what we have. Now you want to throw an additional burden at us. Let's not forget that we're also subject to federal legisation that controls to who as well as how information on students can be released.

    Wait until the subpoena for that comes across my desk. I can hear that conversation now..."Well, Your Honor, we don't have the equipment. We were told that it's not in the budget. We had to choose between having internet access or complying with the legisation." "No, Your Honor, we haven't deployed that. Perhaps if we let the entire email system for the campus die, we might have time for that." "Yes, Your Honor, we think that if the FBI wants the information, they should be willing to pay for it."

    2 cents,

    Queen B

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    1. Re:Privacy is Dead by queenb**ch · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, there anonymous coward, at least I put my name on things. Furthermore, if there is a law and I have choice between complying and going to jail guess what's going to happen? We'll comply. If you read my post, it was in answer as to why the cost was so high per user...

      No, I don't like handing over the information, but are you planning to pay for my attorney if decide not to? Are you going to pay my morgage, my car payment, my bills because I've been fired over it?
      Until you're willing to put your money where your mouth it, you do not have the right to criticize.

      2 cents,

      Queen B

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  5. Re:Students should use encryption by Fhqwhgadss · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was referring to a previous article about UK police wanting to put people in jail for 90 days while they crack the suspects hard drive. No trial, just 3 months away from your friends and family. Granted, this particular article is about the United States' feds, but we don't need any new legislation to hold our citizens in jail without trial. We just need to call them a terrorist or emamy combatant or some other vile name and pack them off to Guantanamo for over 3 years (so far). This wiretap is just a way for the police state to get more power to abuse.

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