Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Pirate Activist Shows Politicians What Digital Surveillance Looks Like

Posted by timothy on from the count-your-spoons-around-the-public-servants dept.

An anonymous reader writes How to make politicians really understand the dangers of mass digital surveillance and the importance of information security? Gustav Nipe, the 26-year old president of the Swedish Pirate Party's youth wing, tried to do it by setting up an open Wi-Fi network at the Society and Defence National Conference held in Sälen, Sweden, and collecting and analyzing the metadata of conference attendees who connected to it. Nipe set up an open wireless Internet access point named "Open Guest" and over 100 delegates used this particular unsecured Wi-Fi network to go online. The collected metadata showed that, among other sites, they visited those of daily Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Swedish private ads website Blocket, eBay, and tourism sites. "This was during the day when I suppose they were being paid to be at the conference working," Nipe noted for The Local.

81 comments

  1. People forget about people. by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem with these laws is the idea that THEIR Organization is the good guys they figure they will not misuse the information...
    However they forgot that their organization is full of people and every person has a slightly different agenda in life. So the gray area between good guy and bad guy will be at different spots.
    For some vegans they equate dairy as rape, so they will see they guy who wants a real cheese pizza as some sort of monster who must be stopped.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    1. Re:People forget about people. by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

      For some vegans they equate dairy as rape

      And, as a long term vegetarian .. this is why I view PETA and most vegans with some contempt. The rhetoric and crazy gets dialed up to 11 straight out of the gate.

      Slightly more on topic, I'm glad someone is demonstrating what "just the metadata" really translates into. People have been hoodwinked into thinking this isn't as severe as it really is.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    2. Re:People forget about people. by pr0fessor · · Score: 2

      Not to mention made them second guess who was controlling every other conference wi-fi labeled "Open Guest" that they had connected to over the years. These were not just politicians some were supposed security experts.

    3. Re:People forget about people. by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The rhetoric and crazy gets dialed up to 11 straight out of the gate.

      Same reason I stay away from churches and religion in general. Each have their own agenda, whether the people who belong realize it or not.

      --
      -- I ignore anonymous replies to my comments and postings.
    4. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rape involves penetration, milking some one against their will (human) would probably constitute sexual assault.

      Not sure what vegans have to do with meta data collection though... unless the bugged the cheese! Vote with your wallet, don't buy from pizza joints with bugs in the cheese!

    5. Re:People forget about people. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

      That's what I always point out in these threads -- it is trivial for a political operative, a G. Gordon Liddy type, to listen in on conversations of political opponents of his boss, to say nothing of using metadata to track who they call -- knowing donors or supporters is valuable info and the government can target them.

      It has nothing to do with the other 999 agents. You cannot build a panopticon.

      We need to carry forward out protections into our virual life, instead of letting the government get away with loopholes that it's electronics where "you have no expectation of privacy", they baldly assert as they slide their hands into our pants.

      Well, guess what? You're wrong, and not in the spirit of why these constitutional protections were created.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    6. Re:People forget about people. by TWX · · Score: 2

      Or perhaps they decided that since they weren't doing anything untoward and were visiting unencrypted magazine and newspaper websites, that there wasn't really much of a problem if someone listened in?

      If you want to freak them out, based on to whom they're connecting to alone, publish a list of what politicians use what banks. All you need to do is to figure out the identity of the user based on their surfing habits, then disclose the name of the bank whose website the visited. Don't need to know anything besides that the connection was established either. That should freak them out sufficiently.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    7. Re:People forget about people. by Falos · · Score: 1

      I sympathize. Many groups have overzealous individuals, and seeing them wave your banner is a bit of a drag, a phenomenon frequent enough that I want a word or phrase to refer to it. But at least some people indulge the benefit of the doubt - I'm willing to believe in the existence of prudent bronies and good dubstep, out there somewhere.

      Somewhat relevant

    8. Re:People forget about people. by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      Rape involves penetration, milking some one against their will (human) would probably constitute sexual assault.

      Not sure what vegans have to do with meta data collection though... unless the bugged the cheese! Vote with your wallet, don't buy from pizza joints with bugs in the cheese!

      Damn, now you have me wondering what cheese made from human milk would taste like...
      If you make cheese made from a (willing) vegan's milk, would it be OK to call it vegan cheese?
      http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/02/us-cheese-breastmilk-idUSTRE7413X020110502

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    9. Re:People forget about people. by elgatozorbas · · Score: 1

      For some vegans they equate dairy as rape

      Only if it is still inside the cow.

    10. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be fair: the cow is forcibly inseminated to cause a pregnancy that then result in milk production and dairy. It is "rape," it's just rape of a cow -- not a human. So, technically, they are correct depending on whether or not you believe you can rape an animal. I'm pretty sure there are some animals out there that would complain about certain farmers if they could...

      Just sayin'

    11. Re:People forget about people. by loufoque · · Score: 2

      It would have been more severe if he did the experiment in the evening, where porn might have been involved.

    12. Re:People forget about people. by bondsbw · · Score: 2

      Same reason I stay away from churches and religion in general. Each have their own agenda, whether the people who belong realize it or not.

      What a silly thing to say. Of course they have agendas. Every person on the planet has an agenda. My 1 month old has an agenda to eat and poop.

      Just because people have some kind of agenda doesn't mean you should avoid everybody. Use your brain. Find out what the agenda is before you dismiss it.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    13. Re:People forget about people. by Immerman · · Score: 2

      Only if made on Vega.

      I think you may have found a loophole though - next up vegan steaks and bacon.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    14. Re:People forget about people. by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

      Just because people have some kind of agenda doesn't mean you should avoid everybody.

      They didn't say they were avoiding everybody, just those associated with churches or religion. That isn't everybody, just a large subset of everybody.

      Talk about not using your brain.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    15. Re: People forget about people. by Lallo · · Score: 1

      Rape does not specifically involve penetration, use a dictionary, and also common sense.

    16. Re:People forget about people. by topology · · Score: 1

      There is a kind of agenda to which all churches and religion can be lumped under, and that is the discouragement of skeptical inquiry in favor of promoting an unverifiable belief system. I suspect that is what the GP meant in indicating they have an "agenda".

      While it is true every entity which has a desire also has the agenda to fulfill that desire, when someone highlights the existence of an agenda within a class of entities, they are carving out a set of agendas which are typical among class members and atypical for entities outside the class.

      It is a common speech act (see the field of pragmatics) that when a universal attribute is invoked to describe a particular set in contrast to its complement, the nuance of meaning shifts to highlight the distinguishing features which are universal among and contribute to the classification of the set members.

    17. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not only that, but in general, churches' agendas are quite benevolent. They genuinely want to save you from an eternity of torture, or painful reincarnations, etc. They do ask for donations, but I don't think most of them will kick you out if you don't give any.

      So it's not their agenda (that's probably the wrong word), it's more the indoctrination, with all its negative connotations.

    18. Re: People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its called extremism. But without the extremists, there could be no middle ground.

    19. Re:People forget about people. by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      Religions are a group of people with a similar (but perhaps not identical) agenda as you.
      Each religion/sect may be working off a particular translation.
      Avoiding them because they misaligned with yours means you are closing your mind off to alternative ideas.
      Religions had people thinking nearly about issues that are common to the human condition for thousands of year. Most of us, can only think about these things in part time. So going to church to listen to these ideas are enlightening.

      Now you don't need to agree with them, but to say I avoid these places because these people think differently than you, is really stupid. You should skip school as well, especially if you don't like your teacher.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    20. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For some vegans they equate dairy as rape

      So what. Yee-haw! Moo like a cow! MOOOOOO!

    21. Re:People forget about people. by bondsbw · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Um, the justification was to avoid churches/religion because they have an agenda . Avoiding them for some other reason (preconceived notion, don't believe in their views, etc.) is a different justification and is not what we are talking about here.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    22. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > There is a kind of agenda to which all churches and religion can be lumped under, and that is the discouragement of skeptical inquiry in favor of promoting an unverifiable belief system.

      Why would you expect me to believe that you've actually investigated every religion in an uncritical fashion when it's unverifiable?

    23. Re:People forget about people. by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      So going to church to listen to these ideas are enlightening.

      Now you don't need to agree with them, but to say I avoid these places because these people think differently than you, is really stupid. You should skip school as well, especially if you don't like your teacher.

      I spent enough time in churches while growing up to know what they offer. Expecting anything different after 20 years would be a bit silly. I ended up not going to churches because what they were telling me eventually became stupid in my estimation.

      And if I want stupid, there's always Duck Dynasty or Here comes Honey Boo-Boo.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    24. Re:People forget about people. by g0bshiTe · · Score: 2

      The larger question is, what is their definition of metadata? The way three letter orgs and governments in general reclassify things to suite them worries me.

      --
      I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
    25. Re:People forget about people. by g0bshiTe · · Score: 1

      Would the vegans prefer the cow be slaughtered for the meat? Typically I don't think dairy cows make it to the dinner table, just their milk.

      --
      I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
    26. Re:People forget about people. by topology · · Score: 2

      It is the nature of skeptical inquiry to erode the belief system. It can hardly be called a "religion" if there is no belief system being promoted and no dogma being encouraged to be bought into. In this case apriori definitions are sufficient and complete empirical investigation is unnecessary.

      Can you think of any organization which would be accurately described as a "religion" which encouraged each person be skeptical of all beliefs, to challenge them and erode them? This would include challenging and skeptically investigating whatever tenets were the foundation of forming the organization.

      Even if you could only reduce the idea of a religion to a family of resemblances such an organization (assuming it lived up to its own ideals) would hardly resemble any cluster of things which we could label "religion".

    27. Re:People forget about people. by Coren22 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Your statement is kind of funny. Religion started Science as a way to better understand God's world/works. Therefore, the Catholic Church (to be specific) has encouraged skeptical inquiry (science) since science was founded.

      Therefore, you lie.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    28. Re:People forget about people. by topology · · Score: 2

      The "benevolent" aspects of the agendas are the vector by which the other memetic ideas infect the host attendants. Most will kick you out if you start challenging the other ideas that are included alongside of the "benevolent" ones.

      besides, I would hardly call the ideas "benevolent" if I first have to believe I've committed mortal sins and require saving from those sins. In essence it attacks the self-esteem in order to get you to buy into the idea of being redeemed.

    29. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Slightly more on topic, I'm glad someone is demonstrating what "just the metadata" really translates into. People have been hoodwinked into thinking this isn't as severe as it really is.

      Since a former NSA director admitted that they kill based on metadata it doesn't really matter how trivial the metadata is.
      If they only gathered data on what color your socks usually are on Wednesdays not even I would care but if they kill people based on that data it suddenly becomes a pretty big problem.
      Now, these organizations shouldn't gather data at all, but if someone is about to be killed I'd prefer if the data that led to the decision is a bit more complete than "metadata"

    30. Re:People forget about people. by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      Everything you said is hilarious.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    31. Re:People forget about people. by Coren22 · · Score: 3, Informative

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R...

      Much of the scientific method was pioneered first by ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Egyptians, Indians, and Sumerians. Later during the middle ages the Catholic church was responsible for saving much of the scientific knowledge from these civilizations, thus allowing the scientific method to develop in Europe during and after the Renaissance and through the enlightenment period.

      Researched historical information can be funny, but many times it is true. If you don't like WP, feel free to click any of the citations at the bottom.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    32. Re:People forget about people. by topology · · Score: 1

      Your statement is kind of funny. Religion started Science as a way to better understand God's world/works. Therefore, the Catholic Church (to be specific) has encouraged skeptical inquiry (science) since science was founded.

      Therefore, you lie.

      I think Galileo and Descartes might disagree with your proposal. Once the sacred cows start being threatened, the pretense of endorsing skeptical inquiry evaporates as well.

      Is the statement "God exists" genuinely up for skeptical inquiry to a Catholic? Most attempts at questioning the existence of God on the part of the religious has been laughable. They can't see all the assumptions that have been made in their conceptualization and linguistic process. Real skeptical inquiry requires questioning all the tacit assumptions which subconsciously guide the mind to select for confirmation bias and circular justification of preconceptions.

      Skeptical Inquiry quickly segways into the question of epistemology and when is it appropriate to form beliefs. Epistemology segways into perception and fallibility of classification, ontology formation and ontology revision. In order to get to any kind of objective perspective to answer ontological questions of this nature, one must first become neutral and self-aware. Be able to see how making an assumption has ripple effects in the belief system. The presence of a concept can skew how we interpret our experience in order to be consistent with the concept.

    33. Re:People forget about people. by JonathanR · · Score: 2

      It never occurred to you that they might have invented these fanciful consequences in order to sell memberships to their political association?

    34. Re: People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Im not an expert in their belief systems by any stretch, but my exposure to tantra suggests that there are belief systems that do encourage skeptical inquiry. Early on in "the Book of Secrets", Osho writes that this book is merely a collection of techniques, and it is left to the reader to determine their value. Apparently the tantric Buddhist version of proselytizing is basically, "try it, you might like it!"

    35. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are the most eloquently spoken and articulated person I have ever had the pleasure of observing on Slashdot, ever.

      Seriously.

    36. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They stopped funding when the questions stopped being "Why/How does God do X" and instead became "Why/How does X happen?"

    37. Re:People forget about people. by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Gotta have gaps for that God to fill.

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    38. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they equate dairy as rape, so they will see they guy who wants a real cheese pizza as some sort of monster who must be stopped.

      Go to 4chan.
      Ask for cheese pizza.
      The FBI will now be watching you.
      Not even trolling.

      Some people posting in "Cheese Pizza" threads really are monsters that must be stopped; Second only to those who desire Delicious Cake.

      In other words: Even your honestly harmless words may not seem as such to the powers that be.

    39. Re:People forget about people. by camperdave · · Score: 0

      To be fair, dairy cows are artificially enseminated without consent, so technically it is rape.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    40. Re:People forget about people. by camperdave · · Score: 1
      Acts 17:11 NIV

      Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

      Malachi 3:10

      Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

      Those do not speak of a "discouragement of skeptical inquiry" to me.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    41. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess you are avoiding everything and everyone else too because they have an agenda ? What's next you are going to avoid? Laws? Become a couch potato to avoid any sort of agenda without making it an agenda?

    42. Re:People forget about people. by camperdave · · Score: 0

      ... and the cows are less than 16, so it would be statutory even if the cow were to have agreed.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    43. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have got to be kidding me. The Bible is chock full of examples of how it's fundamentally evil to doubt God.

      Read Job, for instance. The oldest book of the Bible is about a man who was rewarded for not doubting God will while God was playing a game of chess with Satan by allowing Satan to curse Job with poverty, sickness, and murdering all of his loved ones.

      In Genesis, the original fall of man was attributed to Adam and Eve doubting God's word and listening to Satan.

      In Luke 1:11-17, God cursed Zechariah with muteness for doubting (quite logically, we might add) his ancient wife was too old for children.

      The Bible makes it clear that doubt is detestable to God. Haven't you heard the expression "doubting Thomas"?
      John 20:25-28: " Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (In response to the archetypical doubter, Thomas.)

      If you think the bible encourages skepticism, you don't really understand it.

    44. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think the distinction is simply one "agenda" or another. Descartes pointed out the distinction over 400 years ago, and it is that some institutions are built around the notion that doubt is inherently wrong. It wouldn't be wrong to attribute a heavy amount of groundwork for the enlightenment to Descartes for just this notion of calling these institutions out on their BS. Doubt is a fundamental aspect of science, and the scientific viewpoint, while you might say is an "agenda", has proven to lead to a greater wealth of knowledge about the world and ourselves than the Aristolean teachings of the church.

    45. Re:People forget about people. by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Adam and Eve were cursed because of their disobedience, not because of doubt.

      Zechariah asked how he could be sure, and was made mute for a time. Afterwards he praised God. In other words, his doubt was answered. It should be noted that the Abraham, the father of the faith, was also old and had a barren wife. As a priest, Zechariah should have known about that example.

      Nothing happened to Thomas because he doubted, apart from Jesus making a personal appearance to assuage his doubts.

      The disciples of Jesus were continually doubting. Did Jesus let Peter drown when he was walking on the water and grew afraid? When Jesus commissioned his followers to go into the world and make disciples, were any of them cursed for doubting? No.

      It is not doubting, but disobedience that God finds offensive.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    46. Re: People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, in many states it does. That's part of the reason why people can claim that there are virtually no cases involving a woman raping a man.

    47. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Adam and Eve disobeyed because Satan successfully tricked them into doubting God's word.

      Zechariah might have praised after the fact, but it sure didn't make God happy before when ol' Zeke doubted God.

      Jesus told Thomas that those who believe without seeing are "blessed." That reads: "I will bless you if you do not doubt." Or: "doubt is not good."

      Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me of the walking on water incident. Yet another case where Jesus rebuked his disciples for doubting him.

      And again, the story of Job really tells you all you need to know about how the Bible views doubt.

      It IS doubt that God finds offensive. He doesn't like it, and for good reason: if it were seen as favorable. the his entire existence would unravel for lack of evidence. This idea that somehow the Bible encouraged doubt would be looked upon with horror before the age of Enlightenment, when we started to realize science brings real miracles.

    48. Re: People forget about people. by topology · · Score: 1

      Would you call that a religion, then? Or a philosophical approach to life? Although, the support structure around Osho and most big Gurus becomes quasi cultish. At that point the heirarchy between "guru" and "accolyte" needs to be examined for whether or not it is really a healthy relationship model for two humans to engage through.

    49. Re: People forget about people. by Totaku · · Score: 1

      I know a lot of Thai Buddhist consider their blend more of a philosophy than a religion.

    50. Re:People forget about people. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While the Catholic Church has funded quite a few scientists and a lot of scientific inquiry, they sure as fuck didn't found science. Science was around long before Catholicism was.

  2. First first post? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or not?

    Great idea anyway, nothing like a practical demo to drive the point home!

    1. Re:First first post? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no, you dumbass, that dude got frosty:
      http://mobile.slashdot.org/com...

  3. While Enlightening... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and proving his point, this is sure to create a few enemies. Here's hoping this shaming will change a few minds.

  4. Work at a conference - heh! by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 5, Funny

    >> be at the conference working

    No one goes to a conference to do work. You're generally only doing work if you get called into an issue from home base.

    1. Re:Work at a conference - heh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hmm.... geee that 12 hour days I put in manning a table wasn't work? Dang. I think you should speak for yourself.

      Then again... yea- 99% of attendees and even booth people don't really do shit at these events.

    2. Re:Work at a conference - heh! by Rinikusu · · Score: 2

      Just don't crack a joke about a dongle.

      --
      If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
    3. Re:Work at a conference - heh! by loufoque · · Score: 1

      People working a booth do work.
      People just strolling in the alleys, not so much.

  5. Shiver me timbers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thar be politians sailing on the WiFi seas!!! Man the harpoons!!!! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrr!!!!!!

  6. Views of the World by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Too many people think everyone sees the world as they do. This won't get the politicians to do anything about mass surveillance. What it'll do is push them more towards making hosting your own network illegal. Anything not coming from an approved ISP is untrusted and thus for the safety of all should be banned.

    It gives more teeth to hotels and other companies that say they need to actively block and ban unknown networks.

    1. Re:Views of the World by Mr+Krinkle · · Score: 2

      Too many people think everyone sees the world as they do. This won't get the politicians to do anything about mass surveillance. What it'll do is push them more towards making hosting your own network illegal. Anything not coming from an approved ISP is untrusted and thus for the safety of all should be banned.

      It gives more teeth to hotels and other companies that say they need to actively block and ban unknown networks.

      Old saying, "never try to embarrass the people that make laws. They'll just make you illegal" (also applies to never make the people with guns look stupid)

      --
      I am 31337 or something.
    2. Re:Views of the World by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We have plenty of illegals here, too and the issue is with the laws being selectively enforced.

    3. Re:Views of the World by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think it'll have even that much impact. Seriously, they visited - a major newspaper, an ad site (probably via said newspaper), and some travel agency (very possibly in connection with their own or colleagues' travel to or from the venue, hence that would actually count as working)?

      How innocuous can you get? Seriously, is there an employer in the western world, in 2015, who would even blink at their employees visiting sites like these on work time?

      If they'd been browsing chickswithdicks.xxx that'd be a different matter.

  7. There should be a law by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

    There should be a law against doing this that applies to anyone not in law enforcement. Or government. Or corporations. Those are the minds which will be affected, and they won't stop until something is made illegal.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    1. Re:There should be a law by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      the guy who did this was a part of the pirate party. so I guess that would make it ok as he is government based on your criteria

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    2. Re:There should be a law by g0bshiTe · · Score: 1

      Yes because laws have stopped both civil and governmental abuse of things in the past.

      --
      I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
    3. Re:There should be a law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the guy who did this was a part of the pirate party. so I guess that would make it ok as he is government based on your criteria

      Sweden still has laws to make it harder for small parties like the Pirate Party to get into the parliament. The government would probably want to outlaw smaller parties if they could get away with it.

  8. Treason! by Anarchy24 · · Score: 1

    In Freedomtown USA, you'd be charged with felony wire tapping, and they would use your own phone and internet records against you. Probably your healthcare history and grade school report cards too.

    1. Re:Treason! by loufoque · · Score: 1

      What makes you think Sweden is any different?

    2. Re:Treason! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What makes you think Sweden is any different?

      Well, first of all they would use the laws regarding rape instead of wiretapping laws if they want to get rid of you.

  9. Confusing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is the expectation to work from a conference a Swedish cultural thing, because that doesn't make sense at all to me.
    Besides.. I'm working today, and posting this, so...

    Also, who uses an open WiFi under any illusion they're not being monitored?

    Does anyone really think the take home from this is an interest in new privacy legislation, and not further distrust in open WiFi points?

    If you caught someone peeping through your privacy fence, what do you do - demand laws to protect your visage, improve the fence, or just move on?

    1. Re:Confusing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, who uses an open WiFi under any illusion they're not being monitored?

      99% of the smart phone carrying public have no clue that they can be monitored and worse yet .. think a flash light app that ways in at 20MB is a good thing.

  10. Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm pretty sure the majority of politicians already understand the importance of using private networks. This is probably day one training of holding a public office. The next thing they learned was this same information can be used against miscellaneous perpetrators and adversaries. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I've watched too much House of Cards.

  11. collection means nothing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    unless you do something with that data.

    A activist can't do much, so it proves nothing. Now a gov't... that's a different story.

  12. PETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With all of the millions and millions of dollars that get donated to PETA every year, they run all of ONE animal shelter, and that shelter has a kill rate of over 90%.

    PETA has their agenda, and it has nothing to do with helping animals. FUCK PETA, just fuck em.

  13. lunch break? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They checked out a newspaper while at a conference? I do it when I eat lunch all the time. I don't see how that rises to the level of nefarious.

    1. Re:lunch break? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      depends on whether it was the Guardian, UK Column, Charlie Hebdo, or Marxism Today.

      (apologies, Brian, just making the point).

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  14. I'm reading this on /., totally not from work by billstewart · · Score: 1

    Some conferences are good work material. Some of them are an excuse to have the people you'd like to talk to all show up at the bar where the important conversations happen. (Back during the 80s, a surprising number of Unix-related companies started as conversations at the bar at Usenix conventions.) And some conferences are of course opportunities for networking, i.e. for finding your next job, so they might be "work" related, just not for your current employer.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  15. Oh come on! by GrandCow · · Score: 1

    It hasn't even been 12 hours, it's even still on the front page!

    http://mobile.slashdot.org/sto...

    --
    "Well kids, you tried your best, and you failed. The lesson is, never try." -Homer Simpson
    1. Re:Oh come on! by GrandCow · · Score: 1

      Whoops, looks like I posted this in the wrong article!

      --
      "Well kids, you tried your best, and you failed. The lesson is, never try." -Homer Simpson