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What Can You Find Out From Metadata?

Posted by samzenpus on from the reading-between-the-lines dept.

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."

10 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Bend over and submit citizen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Unequal application of government power and laws is directly akin to removal or destruction of a person or organization's citizenship and rights. It is directly equivalent to the acts of a Slaver.

    Slavery, or the forced removal/infringement of a person's civil rights for the pleasure or profit of another is considered to be an act of Hostis Humani Generis, or in other words, an Enemy Of All Mankind.

    Everyone involved in this atrocity should be hanged after trial.

    1. Re:Bend over and submit citizen by ArcherB · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Don't like it? Move to China.

      That's a great comeback -- don't like something about your country? Well pack up, get out, and move someplace worse because america is perfect the way it is so you either need to accept that or get out - we don't need your changes!

      A couple of points here. First, Snowden ironically fled to Hong Kong, which is China. I think the GP was making a joke. Here's your whoosh!

      But in response to your post, there is some logic behind the "Love it or Leave it" argument. For example, there are many in America who want to make America like Europe, and work hard to transform it to that. It makes sense to ask these people, "Why don't you just move to Europe?" Here is why the logic works: If they were to move to Europe, they could line under a government that is exactly what they want. They'll be happy there. As a bonus, those of us who like things in America the way they are get to stay and live in under a government that is exactly what we want. It's a win-win! We all get what we want. On the other hand, when they stay and fight to transform America, they make themselves miserable living in a country they don't like and make the rest of us miserable fighting to keep them from changing America into a country we won't want.

      Why try to change the place you live into someplace else when you could simply move to that someplace else?

      Please forgive the off-topicness

      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    2. Re:Bend over and submit citizen by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yep. And there isn't a single political system in the world that can prevent an act like that from being passed. You know why? Because any legal framework (and that's what the Constitution is, nothing more, nothing less) that forbids this law can be changed to allow it. The only thing that cannot be changed are religious texts, and most of the western world fought long and hard to remove religious texts from legal frameworks. Turning the Constitution into a religious work will be counter-productive on an epic scale.

      For a real-world example of exactly this, look into a tax-act that was passed right after the 2008 crisis: it essentially targeted specific AIG bankers with massive taxes so that they would not be able to enjoy their 8-9 figure bonuses that they were paid out at the end of 2008. It was the Beardo-act, except aimed at bankers. And everyone cheered it on, and everyone agreed it was Constitutional.

      The only thing that prevents this type of legislation is a social understanding that this is Not Cool (TM). The only way to achieve that is through education. And, looking through the current thread, education is exactly what's missing.

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    3. Re:Bend over and submit citizen by reve_etrange · · Score: 4, Interesting

      there is no place else in the world that has the economic opportunity and freedom that the US has

      Maybe that was true once, but it has long been a commonplace that upwards social mobility is greater in Europe than in the United States.

      --
      .: Semper Absurda :.
  2. I'll know it is modest when by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'll know it is modest if the general public can get a dump of the meta data for every elected office holder as well as their staff members, and all judges. If they have nothing to hide then this shouldn't be a problem. If not then the NSA can fuck off.

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    Time to offend someone
  3. Apologists Be Damned by Phoenix666 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I voted for Obama twice.

    Anyone who serves as apologist for the NSA, the Whitehouse, and Congress on this proves himself an enemy of the Constitution and the American people. There is no justification for this. There is no gentle dismantling of the Constitution. It stands above this or any government in Washington, D.C. Anyone in Washington D.C. who assaults it like this means the destruction of our Republic and the subjugation of its people.

    Obama must be impeached. The Congressmen and Senators who support his actions must be impeached. The courts who OK this must be removed. Washington D.C. must be burned to the ground and rebuilt if there are none there who will honor their oaths to defend and uphold the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

    --
    Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
  4. Analogue analogue by GODISNOWHERE · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Its as if someone from the government physically followed you wherever you went and wrote down the places where you made a cell phone call and how long you talked on the phone. The also record when and where you send a text message. Almost everyone would find this unbelievably creepy.

    Of course, no human actually does this for regular citizens, and no human looks at it — unless you are being investigated, which the government don't need probable cause to do (according to their interpretation of Section 215 of the PATRIOT act.) Then it really is as if someone had followed you and recorded all of this information.

  5. Where is the outrage? by Darkness404 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Where is the outrage over this? It's amazing, Clinton gets a blow job from an intern and he gets impeached by the House! But yet this happens and... nothing. Oh, sure, the media is -talking- about it, people are -talking- about it, but where are the protests? Where is the action? Revolutions have been fought over less than this!

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  6. What about old fashioned snail mail by Dareth · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Does the post office or other government branch keep records of from to on regular old snail mail? Would that be acceptable if they did? Isn't that just meta data?

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
  7. Re:no one is "listening" by Darkness404 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Exactly. We've hit a bizarre point in the history of the US where the law no longer constrains what the government can and can't do. It used to be that if the government wanted to expand its powers it would try to pass a law, today they don't even care about that formality.

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.