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Former Microsoft Privacy Chief Doesn't Trust Company, Uses Open Source Software

Posted by timothy on from the takes-one-to-know-one dept.

MojoKid writes "Microsoft's onetime Chief Privacy Advisor, Caspar Bowden, has come out with a vote of no-confidence in the company's long-term privacy measures and ability or interest to secure user data in the wake of the NSA's PRISM program. From 2002 — 2011, Bowden was in charge of privacy at Microsoft, and oversaw the company's efforts in that area in more than 40 countries, but claims to have been unaware of the PRISM program's existence while he worked at the company. In the two years since leaving Microsoft, Bowden has ceased carrying a cell phone and become a staunch open source user, claiming that he no longer trusts a program unless he can see the source."

8 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Good for him by techsoldaten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Without assigning any kind of reason to his shift in attitudes - it's refreshing to see a privacy officer come out like this. I can't think of a reason any CPOs should act differently.

    1. Re:Good for him by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Insightful

      He seems to have gone a little too "tinfoil-hat" for my tastes. He doesn't carry a cell phone anymore. I think that says a lot more than becoming an open source user.

      If the government mandated that everybody carry a tracking device, keep it on at all times, and that they'd be storing the tracking data in perpetuity, there'd be a goddamn revolution.

      But when they do so voluntarily, and the NSA steals all that data - leading to the exact same end point - people are all like, "oh, look, Walter White is twerking again."

      At least this guy is being true to his privacy milieu.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  2. The next obvious step is to ... by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... use caution in everything we do.

    There is no way we can understand everything. There are just too many things out there that we use daily - even software alone consist of so many layers ( from the spreadsheet software program that we use, to the device drivers, the OS, to the embedded firmwares residing inside the chips, to the myriad mix of software that keep the Net humming.

    Yes, I know, it is no fun.

    The paranoids have a point, after all --- BIG BROTHERS (plural) want to know everything about us.

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:The next obvious step is to ... by Fnord666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      even software alone consist of so many layers ( from the spreadsheet software program that we use, to the device drivers, the OS, to the embedded firmwares residing inside the chips, to the myriad mix of software that keep the Net humming.

      Don't forget the compilers and linkers that build the software. The source may look fine, but where did the compiler come from?

      --
      'The tyrant will always find pretext for his tyranny.' - Aesop's Fables
    2. Re:The next obvious step is to ... by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is no way we can understand everything.

      True, but one can understand everything about something, and enough of everything to get by. If you know how electricity and electronic components work, how logic gates and ALUs work, know assembly and higher level languages you can pretty much understand enough.

      The secret is reading LOTS of books and then practicing. Unfortunately, 97% of the population are aliterate -- they can read, but don't. I don't understand those people! Probably never will.

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
  3. Message received by Tokolosh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Recent history teaches us that he knows things that he is not allowed to talk about. This is his way of legally signalling that all is not well.

    We have congresscritters trying to send the same message, without being labeled "traitors". See http://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-udall-statement-on-reports-of-compliance-violations-made-under-nsa-collection-programs

    --
    Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
    1. Re:Message received by turgid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You're not thinking cynically enough.

      With my Slashdot ubiquitous Microsoft Shill hat on consider the following.

      If you don't like/trust/use Microsoft, you are immature and stupid and a stinking long-haired communist FOSS hippy.

      Someone from the company you HATE leaves the company and announces that they don't trust their former employer which also happens to be the company you HATE, and that they have converted to the FOSS way.

      That means what you suspected all along is true! Right?

      Ah but, it's a trap! You see, the FOSS is back-doored to high heaven as well and all this is a psychological trick to make you feel secure and validated in your own mind.

      Muhahahhahahhahah! Elop will soon rule the galaxy.

      --
      Stick Men
  4. citizen or no by sacrilicious · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As Bowden goes on to point out, if you aren't a US citizen, you have no protection whatsoever from PRISM.

    Um, and if I'm a citizen, I'm protected from prism? Nuh uh.

    --
    - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.