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Italy Invests 150 Million Euros In Surveillance, With Emphasis On PS4 Chats (thestack.com)
An anonymous reader sends word that Italy will spend 150 million Euros on reforming information and security services. Part of this reform will be monitoring communication among users of the "chat" feature on PlayStation 4. The Stack reports: "Italian Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando has revealed that Italy is spending 150 million euros ($157mn) on new technology and staff to improve surveillance capabilities, and emphasized that the 'new instruments' (it's not clear whether this means new technology or new requisitions) will also target the Sony PlayStation network which fell under suspicion as a possible forum of organization for the Paris attacks (though no evidence was found to support this)."
Listening to millions of 12 year old kids will be hard on the listeners, I hope they have no longer shifts than 2 hours.
And to _understand_ what the hell they are saying is even harder than listening to Urdu or Suaheli conversations, because most of them have a lisp these days.
Ok, it would have made lots of sense about 2 months ago. Now, it's just pointless. You're literally guarding the barn after the stampede.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
That's how modern politics works, unfortunately.
Ignore the facts. Pick the first easy thing that shows we are doing something.
Ignore the real problem. Pick a random thing from the headlines and act on that.
Ignore the known solutions. Make sure you are never seen continuously working on the same thing until it's done, our attention span is too short for that.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
"...will also target the Sony PlayStation network which fell under suspicion as a possible forum of organization for the Paris attacks (though no evidence was found to support this)."
Since this has been common knowledge almost within hours of the attacks, please choose whether it is corruption or pure fucking stupidity that allowed their government to continue with a bill to spend hundreds of millions for monitoring, which will include PS4 networks.
Corruption or Stupidity. Pick one, because they're the only options that fit here. It really is, and I grow tired of asking why these things occur in the blatant absence of evidence. Time to call a pig a pig no matter what color of lipstick they're slapping on.
Corruption or Stupidity. Pick one, because they're the only options that fit here.
You're assuming they aren't lying on the headline. Look again:
“The net offers numerous opportunities for communication. Antiterrorism investigations have highlighted the use of the [PlayStation]. Because of this every method of communication will be monitored with new instruments.”
PS4 is the excuse. NSA-style monitoring is the objective.
Employees : We discovered that terrorists use PS4s to plan attacks and we have no mean of monitoring them.
Boss : But, it is just like regular chat, and we have packet sniffers, and...
Employees : No, no, no. They use strong encryption that only real PS4s can decode. We need PS4s in every office.
Boss : Ok, but your proposal is too cheap, so every one of you will get a PS4.
... later...
Boss : What are you doing, are you playing (looks at the box besides the console) Call of Duty ?
Employee : Yes, hum.. no, I am conducting surveillance. Just look at the chat, they are talking about bombs and guns, I think we are up do something.
Boss : Great work, is there anything you need.
Employee : Yes, if possible, I would like a PS4 for home, so I can, you know, get more efficient tracking terrorists.
Boss : Of course, it is a pleasure to see such devotion to our homeland security. I'll make sure you'll get that promotion.