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Privacy Advocates Protest FBI Warning of 'Going Dark' In Online Era

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-let-the-backdoor-hit-you-on-the-way-out dept.

CWmike writes "CNET's Declan McCullagh reported last week on the FBI's argument that the massive shift of communications from the telephone system to the Internet 'has made it far more difficult for the agency to wiretap Americans suspected of illegal activities.' The law has already been expanded once, in 2004, to include broadband networks, but still excludes Web companies. The FBI says its surveillance efforts are in danger of 'going dark' if it is not allowed to monitor the way people communicate now. Not surprisingly, a range of opponents, from privacy advocates to legal experts, disagree — strongly. On key tech hitch with the plan, per ACLU attorney Mark Rumold and others: There is a difference between wiretapping phones and demanding a backdoor to Internet services. 'A backdoor doesn't just make it accessible to the FBI — it makes it vulnerable to others,' Rumold says."

5 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Backdoor for others by shoehornjob · · Score: 5, Funny

    'A backdoor doesn't just make it accessible to the FBI â" it makes it vulnerable to others.

    Speaking of backdoors I've got these cool new Sony disks for your computer......

    --
    "We are just a war away from Amerikastan. When god vs god the undoing of man." Dave Mustaine
  2. Oh for the Cold War by AnaxagorasZ · · Score: 5, Funny

    I miss the days back when the only reason that our righteous free country would spy on our citizens or suspend our rights was to try to catch people working for evil governments who did things like spy on their own citizens and violate their rights. Back when it was easy to tell who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.

  3. Let's not forget what this is really about by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 5, Informative

    The FBI can get a warrant if they've got evidence, but they want to snoop without them.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  4. Re:Piss off, FBI by spire3661 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A corporation is not a government. Google does not wield the power of life and death over its users. See the difference? I can choose to not participate in the google universe, i cannot choose to exclude myself from the government's control.

    --
    Good-bye
  5. Re:Piss off, FBI by infolation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One is a free, voluntary service that you can sign up to, at the expense of your privacy.

    The other is a law, that applies to everyone, whether you like it or not.

    Slight difference.