Slashdot Mirror
What Can You Find Out From Metadata?
cervesaebraciator writes "In the wake of recent revelations from Edward Snowden, apologists for the state security apparatus are predictably hitting the airwaves. Some are even 'glad' the NSA has been doing this. A major point they emphasize is that the content of calls have remained private and it is only the metadata that they're interested in. But given how much one can tell from interpersonal connections, does the surveillance only represent a 'modest encroachments on privacy?' It is easy enough to imagine how metadata on phone calls made to and from a medical specialist could be more revealing than we'd like. But social network analysis can reveal far more. Duke sociologist Kieran Healy, in a light-hearted but telling article, shows how one father of the American Revolution could have been identified using the simplest tools of social network analysis and only a limited dataset."
"How's that hopey, changey thing working out for you?"
One would think, if for no other reason, he'd have done a better job just to prove that stupid bitch wrong.
*Sigh* You know the situation is royally fuckt when Sarah Palin quotes start to sound so much as half-assed intelligent...
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Thank goodness this post is being modded up. I was worried that thoughtful discussion was going to break out. "Bend over" indeed.
much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
Could any of you democrats PLEASE PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU to TAKE Lindsey Graham and stick the Democrat tag on him. For the love of everything that is right and good in this world. We conservatives HATE THIS DOUCHEBAG.
We will take Ben Nelson in exchange, and vote for gay marriage in exchange.