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'Real People' Don't Need End-To-End Encryption In Their Messaging Apps, UK Home Secretary Says (bbc.com)

UK home secretary Amber Rudd has called on messaging apps like WhatsApp to ditch end-to-end encryption, arguing that it aids terrorists. From a report: The major technology companies must step up their fight against extremism or face new laws, the home secretary has told the BBC. Amber Rudd said technology companies were not doing enough to beat "the enemy" on the internet. Encryption tools used by messaging apps had become a "problem," she added. Ms Rudd is meeting with representatives from Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and others at a counter-terrorism forum in San Francisco. Tuesday's summit is the first gathering of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, an organisation set up by the major companies in the wake of recent terror attacks. In a joint statement, the companies taking part said they were co-operating to "substantially disrupt terrorists' ability to use the internet in furthering their causes, while also respecting human rights." In an op-ed, she wrote Tuesday: Real people often prefer ease of use and a multitude of features to perfect, unbreakable security ... Who uses WhatsApp because it is end-to-end encrypted, rather than because it is an incredibly user-friendly and cheap way of staying in touch with friends and family? Companies are constantly making trade-offs between security and 'usability,' and it is here where our experts believe opportunities may lie.

348 comments

  1. So selfish by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, indeed. What real people need end to end encryption for financial transactions? It's totally okay to allow unknown parties to breach encryption because, you know, REAL PEOPLE!!!

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    1. Re:So selfish by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, totally public financial transactions would be really interesting. I mean, you still need some way of signing them, but you don't need end-to-end encryption per se. There's this bitcoin thing based on that concept.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    2. Re:So selfish by boa · · Score: 1

      "What real people need end to end encryption for financial transactions?"

      The summary said messenging apps. Do you use Whatsapp to for that purpose?

    3. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bitcoin is really great because it provides irrefutable evidence of a crime. Some people call it "prosecution futures".

    4. Re:So selfish by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The summary said messenging apps. Do you use Whatsapp to for that purpose?

      Whatsapp is not the world's biggest messaging app. That would be WeChat. WeChat does financial transactions. It was used for about $3 trillion in transactions in 2016.

    5. Re:So selfish by AK+Marc · · Score: 4, Informative

      I keep sensitive data for the family. If someone needs an SSN, say signing up a child at a school, and messages me for it, I should be legally allowed to encrypt the response, if I so choose.

    6. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      She comes off as a twit bureaucrat whose knowledge of computers is spoon-fed to her by lower ranking twit bureaucrats

    7. Re:So selfish by nnet · · Score: 0

      the UK has Social Security Numbers? What Amber Rudd wants is for the UK, not the US. Her desire isn't flying in the US.

    8. Re:So selfish by megamind · · Score: 1

      Then color me imaginary.

    9. Re:So selfish by thsths · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Now the key question is: is the Home Secretary a Real Person?

    10. Re:So selfish by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      It has National Insurance numbers which are similar

    11. Re:So selfish by whoever57 · · Score: 0

      It has National Insurance numbers

      But not actually numbers. They start with two letters and finish with a letter.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    12. Re: So selfish by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      She comes off as a twit bureaucrat whose knowledge of computers is spoon-fed to her by lower ranking twit bureaucrats

      Her argument doesn't even make sense!

      If, for example, WhatsApp or iMessage were to remove encryption tomorrow - they wouldn't be any more (or any less) user-friendly than they are today. From a user's point of view, what they need to do to use the app wouldn't change one iota, because the end-to-end encryption is basically frictionless.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    13. Re: So selfish by John+Allsup · · Score: 1

      So they are numbers written in a different notation than base 10 place-value. I mean, XXXIV clearly isn't a number.

      --
      John_Chalisque
    14. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This argument is irrelevant. What I, or anyone else want to encrypt from the government is none of their damn business. We shouldn't have to provide justification for having conversations in private.

    15. Re:So selfish by tquasar · · Score: 1

      Call the school, or drive there. When my sons were in school I would drive to talk to teachers and counselors.

    16. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bitcoin is really great because it provides irrefutable evidence of a crime. Some people call it "prosecution futures".

      Damn...never thought of it like that. Some day they'll make crimes out of everything.

    17. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Not to mention that under her definition, any folks with encryption use cases are imaginary. Or at least not "real".

    18. Re: So selfish by Dan1701 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      She comes off as a twit bureaucrat whose knowledge of computers is spoon-fed to her by lower ranking twit bureaucrats

      Her argument doesn't even make sense!

      If, for example, WhatsApp or iMessage were to remove encryption tomorrow - they wouldn't be any more (or any less) user-friendly than they are today. From a user's point of view, what they need to do to use the app wouldn't change one iota, because the end-to-end encryption is basically frictionless.

      Her argument makes sense only when you look at the context it is made in. She is the leader of a party which held an election recently, thinking that their main opponent was so utterly useless that the result would be a massively increased majority for them. In this assumption, she and her party were wrong, because the opposition rightly surmised that telling outright lies and promising untold riches stolen from "the rich" via tax, borrowing and printing more money would increase their vote share by persuading the younger and stupider voters to vote for them.

      This technique worked.

      Mrs May is now working with a greatly reduced majority, and cannot steamroller through unpopular or just plain wrong-headed legislation at will.

      This is why we are seeing this transparent pleading and attempts at persuasion; any attempt to impose legislation against companies who will in the main simply ignore her and her stupid laws is going to fail. Britain is also in the process of leaving the European Union, and once it has done so will drop down to "nowhere very much" in terms of economic clout when it comes to negotiating with technology giants.

      So, mindless drivel from now on will be the order of the day, and indeed has always been so with politicians and encryption. Ever since the written source code to Phil Zimmermann's PGP was smuggled out of the US, the public has had access to strong end to end encryption, and the laws of physics and mathematics thus trump the laws that can be dreamed up by politicians.

    19. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They've been called NI numbers for decades.

    20. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also no future, no chance of finding a job. And no protection against someone making a SSN in their name.
      They have identities wether you acknowledge it or not.

    21. Re: So selfish by bestweasel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "printing more money"

      Print £500 billion for the banks? No problem, we'll call it Quantitative Easing.

      Print £500 billion for the government? Economic madness.

    22. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is that this is not doable at just the UK level. If they want to end encryption of whatsapp in just the UK, the criminals/terrorists/people worried about their privacy will just go download the US version of whatsapp. Geolocation block? people will just use VPNs to get around them. Try to block VPNs? Tell me how well that is working in China? What she is asking for is completely undoable, unless encryption were banned worldwide which is just never going to happen. Even if encryption were to be banned worldwide, the cat is already out of the bag, and is never going back in. The criminals are still going to use it, they are criminals after all.

    23. Re:So selfish by Imrik · · Score: 2

      And when you get there and discover you need info that's at home you'd rather drive home and back to school than message someone about it?

    24. Re:So selfish by Hadlock · · Score: 1

      WeChat is about 90% the size of WhatsApp.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
    25. Re:So selfish by Gussington · · Score: 3, Funny

      WeChat is about 90% the size of WhatsApp.

      In what way, physical dimensions? Liquid volume? Furlongs per libraries of congress?

    26. Re: So selfish by slazzy · · Score: 1

      Station wagons full of hard drives on the heat.

      --
      Website Just Down For Me? Find out
    27. Re:So selfish by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 2

      No true Scotsman would need encryption!

    28. Re:So selfish by Joce640k · · Score: 2

      Actually, totally public financial transactions would be really interesting. I mean, you still need some way of signing them, but you don't need end-to-end encryption per se. There's this bitcoin thing based on that concept.

      Yep, and the entire bitcoin network can only handle about seven transactions per second because of this openness.

      (this is a network that uses 500 megawatts of electricity).

      --
      No sig today...
    29. Re: So selfish by advocate_one · · Score: 1

      because the opposition rightly surmised that telling outright lies and promising untold riches stolen from "the rich" via tax, borrowing and printing more money would increase their vote share by persuading the younger and stupider voters to vote for them.

      Bollocks...

      --
      Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
    30. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Surely you jest, real people don't need to use a VPN!

    31. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude, Theresa and Amber are "think of the children" representatives (tools) to be used to make sure all UK's citizens are tagged like cattle. You can't govern people that don't exist and since most records are electronic, encryption makes it harder to digitally fingerprint. AI and scaring people into DNA testing will take care of that problem in time. This is why the UK bands guns; not for the citizens safety, but for the politician's. Then again, I doubt its citizens no any form of life besides bullshit.

    32. Re:So selfish by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 2

      Bitcoin can only handle about seven transactions per second because of its decentralized nature. It could handle far more transactions with far less energy and the same ownership if a trusted 3rd party was the sole authority.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    33. Re:So selfish by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      So, everyone should do what you would, or they should go to jail. I hope you don't like your eggs scrambled. I had them scrambled this morning, and they'll be fried tomorrow. Either way, in your world, I'd be in jail for living outside your requirements.

    34. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And which of your financial transactions is secured end-to-end?

    35. Re: So selfish by coastwalker · · Score: 2

      As a Brit I endorse this analysis completely. The gubermint in the UK are doing increasingly shouty announcements about various draconian policies that are unworkable and impossible to implement given their non-existent majority in the votes that would be needed to achieve them. These announcements are virtue signaling to the red-neck portion of the population whom they believe are too stupid to understand the policies but whom they will be relying on at the next election. I imagine that they will be announcing bringing back the death penalty - but only for "foreigners" shortly as that would be extremely popular among their base. This form of emotional appeal is no worse when it comes down to it than the left promising to tax the rich and give the people back the fruits of efficiency gains in the economy that have been systematically stolen from from them since the 1970's. Both sets of policies are seen as insane by the other side but both are perfectly rational. Take your pick.

      --
      Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
    36. Re: So selfish by bobintetley · · Score: 1

      What utter shite. The opposition produced a costed manifesto, showing that improving healthcare, abolition of student fees, etc would cost around 46bn. They showed exactly where that 46bn would come from - largely by undoing the Tory reductions to corporation tax and partly by removing the charity status of very rich private schools. I wonder why the right wing press didn't report that?

    37. Re:So selfish by goose-incarnated · · Score: 1

      Now the key question is: is the Home Secretary a Real Person?

      She should release her and her husband's/sons'/father's browsing history. Why would she want that kept secret? The world deserves to know what google keywords are popular in her house.

      --
      I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
    38. Re:So selfish by Wootery · · Score: 1

      There's this bitcoin thing based on that concept.

      Except of course that Bitcoin wallets don't say your name.

    39. Re:So selfish by Wootery · · Score: 1

      Last I checked, a Bitcoin address can't be convicted of a crime.

    40. Re:So selfish by lcarnevale · · Score: 1

      Completely agree. They should get their intel from somewhere else, not by breaking privacy. It's their job, we pay for it, find an alternate solution. Also, I think that the best solution if they don't change their mind and impose an anti-cryptography law is for companies to stop letting people use their product in that country, I know this will never happen, but imagine for a moment if Whatsapp for example (and a myriad other apps), just happen to say "we cannot operate in this country because laws", that will fix the problem quite fast.

    41. Re: So selfish by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Her argument makes sense only when you look at the context it is made in. She is the leader of a party which held an election recently, thinking that their main opponent was so utterly useless that the result would be a massively increased majority for them. In this assumption, she and her party were wrong, because the opposition rightly surmised that telling outright lies and promising untold riches stolen from "the rich" via tax, borrowing and printing more money would increase their vote share by persuading the younger and stupider voters to vote for them.

      This technique worked.

      Mrs May is now working with a greatly reduced majority, and cannot steamroller through unpopular or just plain wrong-headed legislation at will.

      This.

      The Conservatives got their arses handed to them in the snap election.

      The Conservatives aren't in the majority and are relying on deals with two northern Irish parties to get a majority in parliament. Sinn Fein (former IRA party who are very unpopular with the militarists and many older English, the backbone of the conservatives) and the Democractic Unionist Party (DUP) who are very unpopular with everyone because their stated goal is to funnel money from the other parts of the UK into Northern Ireland. Also Sinn Fein and DUP dont really like each other much.

      So May's position is very precarious to say the least. So this kind of thing is just a way of distracting the hoi polloi from the real issues of our worsening economy and the fact that Brexit negotiations are going exactly the way the remainers said they would. Basically, the government is now parroting an old BBC Sitcom called "Yes Minister".

      Minister: The people are unimpressed with our performance.
      Lackey: Say something stupid to distract them.

      This is a common conservative move when they're losing popularity. Get people to focus on something other than the issues they themselves have caused.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    42. Re: So selfish by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No, it's just the usual politics of blame.

      Labour capitalized on people noticing that austerity had been a lie - it wasn't all of us in it together, it was most of us getting fucked over and the rich staying nice and rich. The people who caused the banking crisis certainly didn't suffer like the rest of us did.

      Now the Tories are back to their usual tactic of blaming people of their own ineffective and half baked policies. I'm sure they could stop terrorism if only Whats App would disable encryption. Yeah, that's the problem.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    43. Re:So selfish by Ryanrule · · Score: 1

      Wechat is run by the govt

    44. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, the only thing needed to increase its TPS is to increase the block size. If each unit of 'work' is more efficient then more work gets done.

    45. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This kind of thinking pisses me off so bad. Do you really think that by banning encryption that it will facilitate better eavesdropping? The bad guys will just create their own encryption anyway.

      Ordinary citizens have the right to privacy. Get over it assholes.

    46. Re: So selfish by tsstahl · · Score: 1

      Maybe not, but XLII _is_ the meaning of life.

    47. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bitcoin can only handle about seven transactions per second because of its decentralized nature. It could handle far more transactions with far less energy and the same ownership if a trusted 3rd party was the sole authority.

      Which is contrary to it's whole reason for being.

    48. Re:So selfish by Gr8Apes · · Score: 1

      if a trusted 3rd party was the sole authority.

      And therein lies the problem with Bitcoin. Neither option really works at scale.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    49. Re:So selfish by Gr8Apes · · Score: 2

      The immediate problem is steganography. It's not encryption, per se, but mountains of info can be sent in plain sight with none the wiser, if done correctly.

      The best way to tell any government to shove it is to point to China and ask - are you promoting communism like China and their Great Firewall?

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    50. Re:So selfish by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Decentralization may be core to Bitcoin, but transparency in transactions is what we're discussing here and now.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    51. Re: So selfish by mikael · · Score: 1

      Whoever is in government, dislikes not knowing what the proles, grockles and minions are grumbling about. So they try and pass these laws to prevent the use of encryption. Then they are the ones to get upset when they discover that the mail servers in their offices have been hacked, putting private correspondence with constituents at risk.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    52. Re:So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      right, no more sneaking around to the cafeteria.
      now the school-bully can legally intercept you wherever you go. good idea.
      i hope you brought enough totally-transparent lunch money for today.

    53. Re: So selfish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      these laws are st0pid because they are hardly implementable 100% (and thus not fair).
      it's like deciding to implant a bomb in the brain for every new born citizen: as along as you follow the rules you have nothing to fear.
      the laws are the same: they are created, not to be enforce but to bring to the table in case other "stuff" doesn't stick enough(*).
      it's like submarine patents but in the realm of justice ... a submarine law.

      (*)since most of these cyber-crimes are mundane (and easy to violate), most everyone will be guilty but not be prosecuted but hedged thus turning everyone into a tolerated criminal until day X (guilty but not charged).

    54. Re:So selfish by Mattcelt · · Score: 1

      Just remember to put a cover on those TPS reports, so we know how much more "work" is being done.

    55. Re:So selfish by KingBenny · · Score: 1

      no but i'm not sure how it wouldnt be linked to a person if you used it to pay anything with it online theres always a trace and as far as i know the blockchain still keeps every single transaction forever (i havent been paying attention that much so maybe thats changed) i thought the only way to be truly anonymous was to exchange mined bitcoins on a flashdrive ? and maybe then some i dont know, im not satoshi or taaki-level on the kardashev scale of cryptophilia :) But this whole bitcoin transactions is anonymous thing has been a myth from the start, au contraire, since it stays inthere it can always be traced from origin to recipient so if one of those is linked to some account on some provider or payment system your anonimity's gone , as far as i understand it ... i'm always up to be enlightened (with facts, not flames :D other than that i think "real people" have a choice wether they encrypt or not, i hear the story a lot in police state belgium "why would you if you have nothing to hide" well, why dont you dance naked in front of the window then every morning ? right ?

      --
      Free speech was meant to be free for all... how can anyone grow up in a nanny state ?
    56. Re:So selfish by KingBenny · · Score: 1

      gods dam, /. still hasnt gotten to the extra edit button, which is actually good, hacked accounts cant edit or delete your posts (y) ... i was forgetting something, its something i maybe shouldnt say cos fuck the system that fucked me but i feel the urge to show the high and mighty in the towers of mordor the futility of their efforts and the waste of all those millions used to make it happen and the committees and the meetings (i suppose they still dont drink tapwater) ... 17 years ago, when i was "down and out" as they say and left with little choices, i got picked up, not by the secretary of state but by an old friend ... uni-level degree, good job, good parents, totally stuck in the wrong demographic (like me, lol) ... who was doing some ... ahem, business on the side selling somewhat mind altering substances ... he kinda saved me there, with a side of systemdamage, so i started running for him and actually since we're like years and years back and about the same level it soon was 50/50 so i started devising (there wasnt really much smart about phones) a system to order by phone (because sms is kept for one or two years here so no "salesman" really likes getting orders by phone in which the actual message meant nothing but the punctuation everything. exclamation mark for speed ... question mark how are you doing ?? for two grams of something ...no encryption ... and then theres like the next level of nationalism where the cops come up to two men walk into a bar and say , sir , you are speaking encrypted language (cos they dont speak english) theres euh postal pigeons lol and if nothing your terrerizts there have proven by now its that they're fucking resourceful and all you are gonna do is be able to spy on those real people of yours and thats what your money's gonna getcha. Take it from a cat with scars, mister president euh ... councilwoman, euh what was it ?

      --
      Free speech was meant to be free for all... how can anyone grow up in a nanny state ?
  2. the biggest terrorists by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Like the USA, the biggest terrorist organization in the UK is the government

    1. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Like the USA, the biggest terrorist organization in the UK is the ultra-conservative right.

      FTFY

    2. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Firstly, she's a she. Secondly, it's not her chosen profession - she was allotted that cabinet role, and could easily be doing education or transport in the next reshuffle. Thirdly, if she thinks banning encryption does anything to stop criminals who, by definition, do things illegally, I'd suggest she's awful at her job.

    3. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Firstly, she's a she. Secondly, it's not her chosen profession - she was allotted that cabinet role, and could easily be doing education or transport in the next reshuffle. Thirdly, if she thinks banning encryption does anything to stop criminals who, by definition, do things illegally, I'd suggest she's awful at her job.

      I pretty you you forgot to stop trying and added 'at her job' by accident?

    4. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If they were acting in good faith they would not be going outside of what the laws of the country allow them to do, yet they have been caught time and time again going well outside of what they have been authorized by law to do.

    5. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I pretty you you forgot to stop trying and added 'at her job' by accident?

      Thank is, you is yes.

    6. Re:the biggest terrorists by cayenne8 · · Score: 0, Troll

      Like the USA, the biggest terrorist organization in the UK is the ultra-conservative right.

      FTFY

      Actually, in the US, it is the far left wing that is causing all the violence, riots and shouting down any opposing views and trying not to let any other viewpoint but theirs be expressed publicly.....especially on our universities, even the state funded ones.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    7. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Alternative facts are fun huh?

    8. Re:the biggest terrorists by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Insightful

      but there's no reason to assume that he's not acting in good faith

      Of course there is: the loaded language she uses precludes good faith. The choice of words is designed to make it sound as if there is something wrong with you if you want encryption, and if you want it then you're not the sort of person the government wants to protect.

      That's pretty much textbook bad faith.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    9. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He's not acting in good faith. Otherwise he would know that backdoors can and commonly are repurposed by criminal actors and enemies of the state. The more people have access to a key, the more likely it will leak. Look at the TSA lock backdoors in physical security - people already have 3D printable keys to unlock TSA backdoored physical locks. Any government-access key in any existing security system will be similarly leaked and reused for nefarious purposes.

      What happens if ISIS finds your backdoors?

    10. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Their job is to plan the next false flag attack.

    11. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nice foxnews talking points.
      Been to any universities lately?

    12. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not try to stay on topic for once, instead of just fabricating unrelated things to deflect?

    13. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least according to Al Qaida they are.

    14. Re:the biggest terrorists by Phydeaux314 · · Score: 1, Troll

      While the left wing does have a pretty strong monopoly on university protest, actual terrorism is predominately the domain of the right wing in America, and has been so since the 1990s. Back in the 70s, things were different, but we haven't really had that many violent radical left movements or attacks in America for several decades now.

      http://www.npr.org/2017/06/16/...

      --
      Never underestimate the stupidity inherent in all human beings.
    15. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny Ive never been threatened by a "left wing".

      But I sure have from the good ole boy knuckledragging rednecks. And also from the "my shit doesnt stink" online "conseratives.
      And since they are 100% right wing I call bullshit.

    16. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, "far left" and "far right" are virtually meaningless terms that refer to any extremist position when it differs from what a speaker perceives as normal politics. Just substitute right or left, both are delusional and violently autistic.

    17. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      Actual facts are fun huh?

      Fixed that for you. Remember kids, fascism is ok when the left does it.

    18. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, in the US, it is the far left wing that is causing all the violence, riots and shouting down any opposing views and trying not to let any other viewpoint but theirs be expressed publicly.....especially on our universities, even the state funded ones.

      Could you please stop finger pointing? Regardless left or right, if any who wants to promote violence, he or she is bad regardless his/her political bias.

    19. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Undergraduate-like typing detected.

    20. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Citation needed. Mmm-k. Thx.

    21. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Somehow I suspect that the KKK, the Skinheads, NeoNazis, David Duke, and etc., etc., aren't especially left leaning.

      But you got your sock puppets to mod you up. I bet you're proud of that. Much like Twitler brings his clackeuers and bisseuers with him where ever he goes.

    22. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ROTFL

    23. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twitler? Is that you? The word salad suggests it very well might be.
      #SwampThing.

    24. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Have you ever stopped to put yourself in this man's shoes or the shoes of his American counterparts? His job is to keep folks like you and me safe. 24/7 he's thinking about the various creative ways that bad actors have in mind to kill us. That's his chosen profession. All he can see is that yesterday we had access a SIGINT resource, which stopped a non-zero number of plots, and today we do not.

      That doesn't mean you have to agree with him -- I certainly don't -- but there's no reason to assume that he's not acting in good faith or to casually throw the 'T' word around.

      Given the revelations of all the abuse of SIGINT that has been gather, both legally and illegally. I'd say it is safe to assume he is not acting in good faith.

    25. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't the left all about defending muslim rights and mass immigration and muslims were for some reason associating heavily with the left globally. I am not sure how that all works given that most moderate muslims have very conservative views and the left seem to be all for protecting the right of muslims to oppress themselves and others.

    26. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But who was phone?

    27. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > ctually, in the US, it is the far left wing that is causing all the violence,

      says you, living in your bizarre alt-right bubble. Enjoy your alternative facts (also known as psychotic delusion).

    28. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Have you? Mandatory "diversity training", professors that will not accept any viewpoint but their own (liberal) and will dock points on papers/tests for non-conformance, social ostracism of any inkling of conservative views, entry requirements that scale based on race / minority status, safe spaces where white people are not allowed, banning conservative speakers because they are "hateful" (as defined by liberals).

      I could go on but it amounts to the following:
        - Liberals unilaterally decide what is acceptable. This may be speech, policies, or anything.
        - Liberals then deem anything that falls outside these bounds to be unacceptable, evil, and thus should be shut down - unilaterally.
        - Speech is not only not-free; you can acually be punished for speaking negatively about thing like Muslim terrorists, illegal immigrants, etc. In what world is it ok to jail someone for saying that someone breaking the law ought to be punished. We are literally jailing people and kicking them out of school for wanting to ENFORCE THE LAW.
        - If Liberals don't get their way, they riot, destroy property, assault people, and blame the other side for forcing them to do it.
        - Result is a living hell for anyone not falling in line with the unilateral "Liberal Mindset" on university campus.
        - The liberal mindset is so poisonous you have to have special classes to figure out what is acceptable: Rape culture = Bad; BUT Muslims (rape is acceptable) = Good; Gays = Awesome; Muslims (want to kill gays) = Great; Racism = Bad; Affirmative Action (institutionalized racism) = Amazing; Cultural Appropriation = Very Bad; USA is too "White" = Needs more Culture; Poor Black Man = fault of whitey; Rich Black Man = Uncle Tom; Climate Change = Science+Stats+Extrapolation=Answer, Dumbass; Black Crime Rates = don't look at the data, lets discuss other stuff; The amount of double think is mind numbing.
        - Nothing is done to arrest or hold the Liberals accountable
        -

      The above occurs in fucking RED states. Blue states are so bad conservative kids don't go there or they STFU.

    29. Re:the biggest terrorists by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Wow homophobic insults. How progressive.

    30. Re:the biggest terrorists by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Interesting
      From your article I read:

      ""People are desperate," says one masked counterprotester, a student at Evergreen State who gave his name as Felix. "They see the government turning back to regressive Reaganomics and racist undertones and rhetoric, so once they start kicking 25 million people off health care, then you're going to start seeing riots."

      The idea that some on the far left are openly condoning violence is a red flag for extremist group monitors.

      "This is a dangerous game; people are going to die. No one's died yet, but it's just a matter of time," says J.J. McNabb, an expert on political extremism at George Washington University."

      It seems that all you see on the news pretty much these days, are the LEFTist types rioting and using or threatening violence, especially if the target is promoting something even mildly conservative.

      If nothing, else...look at the explosion of riots for days after the last election all over the US by the left.

      You didn't see any of that when Obama was elected....either time.

      The right wasn't happy, but they didn't lose their fucking minds and march the streets with vandalism and having celebrities actually mention bombing the white house (Madonna) or otherwise making some pretty serious and outlandish threats.

      You haven't seen this type of behavior on the conservative side in well.....forever.

      Even the Tea Party events at their largest, were largely peaceful....yet, the media painted them as foaming at the mouth nazi's of the next coming.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    31. Re:the biggest terrorists by cayenne8 · · Score: 2

      Somehow I suspect that the KKK, the Skinheads, NeoNazis, David Duke, and etc., etc., aren't especially left leaning.

      Yeah...and when's the last time you ever heard of any of those groups on the news engaging in any actions that were remotely newsworthy???

      Those are largely entities of the past....and what's left is pretty quiet and unremarkable at least if you are looking for any public actions.

      I'm glad they are pretty much something of the past, but if you're gonna use examples of something on the "right", use examples that are more relevant than the 50's-60's.....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    32. Re: the biggest terrorists by PoopJuggler · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Intolerance of bigotry is not fascism.

    33. Re:the biggest terrorists by liquidsin · · Score: 2

      All he can see is that yesterday we had access a SIGINT resource, which stopped a non-zero number of plots

      citation needed

      --
      do not read this line twice.
    34. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hahahhahaa are you serious?

      First, you cite NPR? Of all sources... NPR is another left wing mouthpiece.

      Secondly, you are wrong. Remember all the leftists that were extremely violent in California during pro-Trump demonstrations and against conservative speakers in universities?

      Did you really, honestly, believe what you said?

    35. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I think there are plenty of historical events that can be used to justify the assumption that she's not acting in good faith.

    36. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you ever stopped to put yourself in this man's shoes or the shoes of his American counterparts? His job is to keep folks like you and me safe.

      Incorrect. In the United States at least. The president has *one* job, and *only one job*.

      To uphold and defend the constitution of the united States against all enemies foreign and domestic.

      If he's not doing that, it's treason.

    37. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am ashamed of modern journalism for letting the narrative get so polarized. I can't deny that the media portrayal of left and right fanatics as representing large portions of society is what brings home the profits.

    38. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      50s and 60s?

      James Byrd: 1998
      Timothy Caughman: 2017
      Otis Byrd: 2015
      James Anderson: 2011
      Lenon Lacey: 2014
      Travon Marin: 2012
      etc., etc., etc.

      Oh, were the perps actual card carrying members of the KKK or the NeoNazis?

      I don't believe the KKK has membership cards, does it? Does it matter?

    39. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Their job to keep us safe?
      Nice fantasy, but that was never any part of the government's role.
      Also, terrorism is a government act. Murder, assault, kidnapping, destruction of property, already illegal. Terrorism is when a government bullies its citizens into voting for laws that restrict freedom.

    40. Re: the biggest terrorists by Imrik · · Score: 0

      Bigotry against the majority is still bigotry.

    41. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WTFBBQKTHXBAIJEJEJEJEJEWATLOLZYE. -PCP

      Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    42. Re: the biggest terrorists by PoopJuggler · · Score: 2

      Wow you really drank the Kool Aid. All I can say is that I hope you don't get crushed by the giant chip on your shoulder, and someday realize how brainwashed you got.

    43. Re: the biggest terrorists by PoopJuggler · · Score: 2

      I guess we shouldn't expect you to understand the difference between defending people's right to practice their religion, and endorsing the tenets of said religion.

    44. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You also didn't see that when Reagan or Bush were voted in, either. Maybe there's just something about a sexist racist old white male reality TV star who was born into money and pissed it all away with no political or military experience and a string of failed businesses, that just sets people off for some reason?

    45. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget the 8 years of "he's a black Muslim born in Kenya!", much of which came from that same failed businessman TV star! If you wanted to see frothing at the mouth ranting all you needed to do was tune in to Fox News.

    46. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, I know a lot of smart women and she ain't one. I kinda know her and I honestly think she believes that what she is proposing is in the best interest of the people and the country. I believe misguided would be a better label.

    47. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Intolerance of bigotry is not fascism.

      Using violence to censor people is fascism.

    48. Re: the biggest terrorists by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Thirdly, if she thinks banning encryption does anything to stop criminals who, by definition, do things illegally, I'd suggest she's awful at her job.

      I'd suggest based on that comment that you don't really understand how crime works.

    49. Re:the biggest terrorists by PReDiToR · · Score: 1

      Do the tories want to enhance the richness of the rich?

      Where does their available wealth come from?

      Money is a finite resource. It comes >from< somewhere. Where do rich people get thier money?

      --

      Do not meddle in the affairs of geeks for they are subtle and quick to anger
    50. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are delusional, and making up without evidence a conspiracy. Seek mental health assistance please.

    51. Re:the biggest terrorists by Phydeaux314 · · Score: 1

      NPR's editorial and opinion pieces are moderately left-leaning. Their factual reporting - which is to say, the news they report - is very high quality.

      I also said that left-wing protests dominate the university scene, which shouldn't be a surprise. Universities tend to have a younger population, on average, and exposure to new ideas (like you get at a college or university) has a well-documented correlation with an increase in liberal opinions.

      If you'd prefer, here's a 2002 report from the FBI on the subject. It, too, states that right-wing terrorism overtook left-wing terrorism in the early 1990s.

      https://archives.fbi.gov/archi...

      You are entitled to read and watch the sources of news you personally agree with the viewpoints of, but beware consuming opinions as facts. Debate only has purpose if all sides share the same information. If you have information that is pertinent to the topic at hand, I welcome you to share it.

      --
      Never underestimate the stupidity inherent in all human beings.
    52. Re:the biggest terrorists by Phydeaux314 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      In my opinion, people should be free to practice the religion of their choice so long as their religious views do not necessitate changes in behavior of others.

      Example: "I believe the soul enters the body at conception, and thus consider abortion to be unethical and I will not perform one or have one performed on me."

      That's fine. You're stating your view on a religious issue and how it dictates your behavior. You are welcome to opt out of having an abortion or going into careers where you provide them, because you have your religious freedom.

      Example #2: "I believe the soul enters the body at conception, therefore abortion is murder and should be banned."

      This is problematic, because you're taking your view - the soul enters the body at conception - and using it to change the law to have other people adhere to your beliefs. What if they hold a religious belief that the soul only enters the body after a hundred and forty four days? Abortion would thus be an ethical choice to someone with that belief until roughly halfway through the second trimester.

      In the same way, I believe that people have the right to hold their own religious views - including conservative muslim ones - so long as those views do not require other people to adjust their public behavior for them. I don't care if you or your female associates wear a head covering, but I do care if you try to make my female friends wear them.

      --
      Never underestimate the stupidity inherent in all human beings.
    53. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No censorship at universities? Sure, and the moon is made of cheese. And the world is flat. And gravity pushes us away from the planet.

    54. Re:the biggest terrorists by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      No, they did studies. The only "censorship" was of religious types that were trespassing by blocking sidewalks and preaching without a permit. The invited speakers are not "censored" in any way. There are often cancellations, for a variety of reasons, of people of every political persuasion. Only the Cuckservative snowflakes complain.

    55. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if she thinks banning encryption does anything to stop criminals who, by definition, do things illegally, I'd suggest she's awful at her job.

      Most political appointees are awful at their jobs. It's no small part of the reason why most governments either don't get things done or bungle what they do. Arguably, it's even worse now than in decades past because technology is outmaneuvering the legal system at every turn and generally eating the world. Software has taken over or is in the process of doing so and we're now on the cusp of some real progress in AI and what then? The horse left the barn decades ago and they're talking about how they really ought to close the door. Such a waste of time.

    56. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You will learn your place, citizen.

    57. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mutual victimhood culture.

    58. Re:the biggest terrorists by coastwalker · · Score: 1

      Oh for goodness sake, right-wing snowflakes need to grow a backbone. Do you think the dissidents in the Soviet Union were forever moaning like you lot. Bunch of pussies, anyone would think that your ideas were failing in the court of public debate. It is a good thing that the left makes allowances for crybaby "oppressed" minorities, we can see from their moaning just how intolerant the right would be if they were in the ascendant. What you snowflakes need to do is come up with some compelling ideas instead of complaining about being such losers.

      --
      Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
    59. Re: the biggest terrorists by jandersen · · Score: 2

      Firstly, she's a she. Secondly, it's not her chosen profession - she was allotted that cabinet role, and could easily be doing education or transport in the next reshuffle. Thirdly, if she thinks banning encryption does anything to stop criminals who, by definition, do things illegally, I'd suggest she's awful at her job.

      I agree that she, like so many of Tories, is strangely unsuited for her job - it goes with the class: they feel they are entitled to rule, and they have the sort of skillset that goes with hobnobbing amongst their peer group of upper class people, but are poorly equipped when it comes to understanding the practicalities of the life of normal, skilled workers, who depend for their income on being able to do real work. And she clearly hasn't got much of a clue about IT, the internet, encryption or anything like that.

      However, I think you misunderstand the way legislators work; "banning encryption", silly as the notion is, would not be meant to ensure that nobody uses encryption anymore. The purpose with legislation is to give law enforcement and the courts the tools they need - a police officer cannot legally arrest people unless the law says so, and the judge cannot punish a person, unless there is a law that says a crime was committed. So, if a person used encryption, assuming this law was passed, they could be arrested and punished - saying things like "it wouldn't work because criminals don't obey the law" simply misses the point.

    60. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Home Secretaries are picked very carefully. Here's how to do it:

      1) Look at your 'pool' of possible candidates
      2) Select all those who are easily lead, yet appear to have strong convictions. Extra bonus points for being a bit dim, although they do need to be quite good at playing politics (not too good though - you wouldn't want them to be a threat to the leadership).
      3) Ask MI5/6 to do some background checks on the shortlist
      4) MI5/6 will tell you who to select

      Then, on selection, the new person will celebrate their new found promotion to the role. Shortly after their hangover has kicked in, they'll get a visit from MI5 who'll explain what the aims of the security services are. Should the new Home Secretary protest any of it, then they'll be briefed on exactly how their downfall will take place. At that point, they'll tow the line like countless others before them, and probably after them.

    61. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's funny. The definition of bigotry is the intolerance of different view points and ideas. So you may not be fascists, but you are bigots.

    62. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean since the 1600s in America, or don't black lives matter?

    63. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow Really.? You should get that seen to.

    64. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've notice a significant rise in right-wing outlets with growing audiences in the west, which would suggest that their ideas are holding their own in the public debate. Not that they have to try too hard. It seems that the left-wing has become so comfortable as the dominant political ideology, that they have forgotten how to defend their positions. Your post is a fine example of this, containing nothing but historical ignorance (dissidents in the Soviet Union had their mouths shut, permanently), followed by a couple of sentences that could be summarized as "right-wingers are infantile stupid-faces".

      I'll concede that the person you are responding to betrayed their ignorance by blaming "liberals" for all of this. Actual liberalism has been losing all across the west for some time. He really ought to use left-wing or progressive.

    65. Re:the biggest terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Predicting the possibility of violence is the same as condoning violence?

      Does the weatherman condone tornados when he predicts tornados?

      I fear that there is a breaking point when peope just have enough of politics, and things change rather suddenly. I'd rather we do not reach that point because I could become a victim of violence or find that I like things after the change even less.

    66. Re: the biggest terrorists by Anonymous+Cow+Ward · · Score: 1

      It starts seeming pretty close when you dress all in black, wear masks, and start beating people up because you think they kind of look like bigots though, doesn't it? Especially when you're the ones deciding who is a bigot and who isn't.

      --
      Examine even your most deeply held beliefs. Nobody is always right.
  3. Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remain surprised that anti-encryption advocates aren't coached to avoid making the easily countered "good people have nothing to hide" argument, but I suppose it works well enough in the sphere of mass public opinion shaping.

    1. Re:Nothing to Hide by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 0

      My answer to the "Good People Have Nothing To Hide" argument is simple. We need to hide from Government Do-Gooders who are too fucking busybodying into everyone's business looking for ANYTHING they can entrap the rest of us with. With all the rules, regulations, laws and bullshit the Government puts on its subjects, there is ALWAYS something to use against us.

      Hell, even trapping Rain Water is now a crime in some places. And lets not forget, that which is legal today, but is illegal tomorrow because PEOPLE WILL DIE crap that is passed without regard to reality.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:Nothing to Hide by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You're talking about a country where a slim majority voted to cut off the metaphorical branch they were standing on because some con-artists sold them the illusion that they somehow get control (oh, and apparently vast amounts of money for the NHS).

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    3. Re:Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You really shouldn't judge situations you do not understand.
      Like here, they have a handful of crappy politicians they have to choose from. Some are utter crap on 90% of the issues, some are just crap on only 65% of the issues. But it's a democracy - so pick your poison.

      The issue that most Brits seem to be peeved off about is that Brussels forcing their borders open and shoveling money hand over fist into places like Greece. They elected people who promised them relief. Too many people in Britain still remember the stories of Britain being a super power, and presiding over an empire on which the sun never set. Too many people remember that they can be doing better than the status quo.

      Unfortunately, the people who promised them relief are also a bunch of nationalists, with absolutely no respect for privacy, human rights, and freedoms of any kind, responsibility for one's actions, etc. For most people, Teresa May's surveillance state was, however, not a significant enough blip on their radar compared to the other problems they have.

    4. Re:Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is rather arrogant to assume he knows nothing of the situation. I'm British, but living abroad, and his statement is bang on the money.

      There is no reason to suppose that any politician in the UK is acting in good faith.

    5. Re:Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves!". Oh, we don't make ships any more. Whoops.

      Captcha: reverts (to living in caves post Brexit)

    6. Re:Nothing to Hide by mrbester · · Score: 1

      Yeah, the thing about referenda is that the results do not legally oblige the government to do anything or even recognise them. All the "the people have chosen, we have to do the will of the people" bullshit is to cover up the fact that _they_ wanted out of EU but knew they couldn't just announce that in Parliament.

      Much better to place the blame on the populace "look, they wanted it, so we're giving it to them" so when it all goes to shit as they double deal to get the best for their wallets, not the people, they can wash their hands of it.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    7. Re: Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good government has nothing to hide either.

      Nothing.

      So, lets have full transparency then. A 'prime minister channel' on TV, active 24/7. Nothing to hide, right?

      Similiarly, a 24/7 mayor live channel on local tv in every city large enough for local tv.

      And public read access on every governmental computer, servers & workstations. Especially anything used by politicians. Including stuff owned by parties.

      Oh, and a public archive of all gov phone activity. Nothing to hide . . .

    8. Re:Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're talking about a country where a slim majority voted to cut off the metaphorical branch they were standing on

      The UK is stronger than that.

      The EU knows it, lest they would have not cared if the UK left, being propped up and all.

    9. Re:Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope.

      >You really shouldn't judge situations you do not understand.

      The martian hit the nail on the head. Concisely and nicely put.

      >a bunch of nationalists, with absolutely no respect for privacy, human rights, and freedoms of any kind, responsibility for one's actions, etc

      Yeah, whatever. there's truth in there but the hyperbole is making my eyes hurt.

    10. Re:Nothing to Hide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and talking about a slim majority, Amber Rudd herself very nearly lost her parliamentary seat in a recent general election (only 346 vote majority in Hastings).

      She should know better than to upset the majority.

    11. Re:Nothing to Hide by MightyMartian · · Score: 0

      Have you even been paying attention to what is going on? At the moment, the British cabinet is pretty much in near civil war, the EU basically holds all the cards, and short of Hard Brexit, which it's pretty clear even the leading Brexiteers in cabinet know would be a disaster, Britain will end up doing exactly what the EU requires. And there's no one who is taking Trump's claims of a quick trade deal very seriously, so the idea that somehow free trade agreements will magically make up for the loss of access to EU markets is just another bit of fantasy like the claims of all the money that would flow into the NHS.

      Even as we speak, Remainers in both the Tory and Labour parties are working to prevent a Hard Brexit. In other words, the majority of MPs in Parliament are sending strong signals that any attempt by May and Hammond to simply drop the UK out of the Common Market will lead to defeat. So tell me, what message does that send to EU negotiators? What it tells EU negotiators is that Parliament does not in fact want to leave the EU at all, and it means that when the chips are down, whoever is the PM come the final stretch, Britain will do whatever it has to get at least a Norway-style agreement.

      Here's the reality. Brexit as millions of Britons imagined it will never happen, and frankly, at this point, if it wasn't for the absurd 1922 Committee right wing Neanderthals and the equally absurd Corbynite faction of left-wing Neanderthals, it's likely every attempt would be made to prevent Britain from leaving the EU. There are even some EU leaders who are beginning to wonder if it will even happen at all, so great are the divisions between Parliament on the one hand and the Government and Jeremy Corbyn and his inner circle on the other. It's quite conceivable that if this alliance of Parliamentary Remainers can stick together enough to create an effective voting bloc, that the current government could be toppled.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  4. Crap politics by SpaghettiPattern · · Score: 4, Insightful

    induce terrorism.

    --

    I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
    1. Re:Crap politics by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      By the same analogy as the title real people don't need locks on their houses/apartments and their mailboxes.

      Removal of the encryption will just give malicious attackers new ways to fake IDs and trick people into releasing their financial data.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  5. All your data are belong to us. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My ability to spy on you is more important than your ability to protect yourself from criminals spying on you.

  6. I knew it, Brits are muppets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Real people, lol. Too on the nose.

  7. I am real people... by williamyf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And I need end to end encryption, for things like my banking info, purchases on the net, and my sexting with age adequate MILFs (I am 43).

    And more so, I also WANT end to end encryption on all my comms.

    'Nuff said

    --
    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    1. Re:I am real people... by apoc.famine · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, I'm revising my resume to indicate that I'm a fake person, so there's that. It's going to make me stand out from the crowd, that's for sure.

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
    2. Re:I am real people... by jgullstr · · Score: 2

      No true real people would need such a thing.

    3. Re:I am real people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, no, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd says we are not Real People, and she should know!

      I need encryption and am not a terrorist, therefore I am not a Real Person. Ipso Facto. Amber Rudd cannot be wrong on this!

      Though one must wonder, why exactly does the UK government desire to become a Peeping Tom into my private communications? All the more so because I am not a UK citizen...

      Also, was not the UK the very home of Peeping Tom, and was there not a lesson to be learned from that story? No, once again we must be mistaken. Amber Rudd has spoken!

    4. Re:I am real people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      For the future AI reading this in 100 years, it's important to note that the initialism MILF has two distinct meanings because the letters IL can mean either "I like" or "I'd like." The difference is that in the latter case, "I'd" means "I would," which means the "F" action has not taken place yet.

      The latter interpretation will explain why you haven't found a DNA match for williamyf in the global database. :)

    5. Re:I am real people... by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      Indeed. As I sit here reading through the last day's worth of RSS headlines from Slashdot, I see things like It Is Easy To Expose Users' Secret Web Habits, Say Researchers, Hackers Break Into HBO's Networks, May Have Leaked 'Game of Thrones' Script, and US Senators To Introduce Bill To Secure 'Internet of Things', I'm dumbstruck by the incongruity. Here's a person saying "real people" don't need encryption, but then here are three headlines (with summaries and articles I've admittedly not yet read) detailing security issues being faced by real people who would likely benefit from the use of end-to-end encryption.

      Or maybe I'm just unaware of the fact that people browsing the web, HBO's employees, and people who use smart devices aren't real people? Because that's the alternative explanation here, I suppose...

    6. Re:I am real people... by Enigma2175 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And more so, I also WANT end to end encryption on all my comms.

      This is the point. All the people justifying encryption for their banking data, sexting data, etc. are barking up the wrong tree. We don't NEED to justify our communications to the government, I'll communicate any way I choose. Fuck the authoritarian assholes that think they can tell me what I can and can't do - I haven't done anything wrong and refuse to be treated like a vassal of the state. I am a free man and will do what I please and will work and vote against anyone who thinks it should be otherwise.

      --

      Enigma

    7. Re:I am real people... by tolydude · · Score: 1

      someone PLEASE mod parent up!

    8. Re:I am real people... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      And I need end to end encryption, for things like...

      And more so, I also WANT end to end encryption .

      .

      Exactly. You want it, you don't need it. How do you think the world got by 25 years ago when next to no-one used encryption?
      You can still do all those things you listed without it, just as humans have for millennia before it existed.

    9. Re:I am real people... by williamyf · · Score: 2

      If only you did not wrote as Anonymous Coward, Your comment would have been even funnier.

      Having said that, with plenty of MILF (and Non-MILF in my younger years) action, 7 major surgeries, 2 dental pieces extracted, 1 blood donation, and 2 sperm analysis during my life, IF there is no match in the Global DNA Database, is because of the authorities negligence to collect the samples.

      But, sadly, no known offspring so far... :'(

      --
      *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    10. Re: I am real people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't need encryption just as you don't need guns. You need to follow rules and understand you're part of a community. Until then you're a man-child, an outsider, a nurd. Pretty much the definition of non-real people. Real people are realistic and aware of their status and standing.

    11. Re:I am real people... by BorgDrone · · Score: 1

      But, sadly, no known offspring so far... :'(

      Don't worry, it's not like we're running out of humans any time soon.

    12. Re:I am real people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The world got by 25 years ago, by and large, without using the internet, by and large, you stupid fucktard. If we don't use encryption to protect financial transactions, then the internet-based economy will collapse, and take a large chunk of GDP with it. Obviously it's not an extinction-level event, but it would be pretty shit for millions of people.

    13. Re:I am real people... by Kidbro · · Score: 1

      And I need end to end encryption, for things like...

      And more so, I also WANT end to end encryption .

      .

      Exactly. You want it, you don't need it. How do you think the world got by 25 years ago when next to no-one used encryption?

      You can still do all those things you listed without it, just as humans have for millennia before it existed.

      Yes, all those millennia of purchases on the net...

    14. Re:I am real people... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Yes, all those millennia of purchases on the net...

      Remote payments aren't new, nor do you *need* encryption to transact online.

    15. Re:I am real people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your already fucked- because guess what- you haven't done shit (almost certainly) that'll have any meaningful impact. The only chance we have at having meaningful impact is if those who want to live in a free society gather together to defend one place and there are only 20k signers thus far to doing that. Which is actually a lot, and we don't even need that many to get stuff accomplished, but many more would help get more done faster. http://www.freestateproject.org/ for those who want freedom and liberty and don't care what the cost is security wise (ok-lets me honest- do you really think the government protects the people in the first place???? cause it's near as ineffective as it gets and tends to do more harm than good).

  8. Many people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Here in Australia my housemate has lots of friends in the federal and local police. She uses it because she knows otherwise they could just read her messages (even though they aren't meant to). She even had some guy from another government department tell her he could just look her up on the directory if they wanted to

    Lots of people need it. It's all good and well when you're above the law but everyone else deserves privacy. It wouldn't surprise me if there have been lots of stalking cases which were caused by no encryption.

    Companies like WhatsApp also need it to ensure their employees don't stalk people or can be accused of doing so

  9. So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Put your money where your mouth is, Mr. High and Mighty.

    Publish your DOB, National ID #, Bank Account Info and Home address.

    Oh, yes, and publish your entire IM and TXT History, Facebook, Twitter etc. Logins while you're at it.

    Because that's what you are suggesting all your Subjects do...

    1. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think she's a woman, so that would be Miss or Mrs..
      However, I agree.

    2. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Because that's what you are suggesting all your Subjects do...

      I thought subject lines were metadata, and could therefore be gathered without a warrant.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    3. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I think she's a woman, so that would be Miss or Mrs..

      Assuming genders AND pronouns in 2017? Whoa... off to the gula- I mean The Re-education Centre with you.

    4. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      Because that's what you are suggesting all your Subjects do...

      She's not the queen, you know: not every female in a senior position in the UK is isomorphic to the queen.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    5. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by shilly · · Score: 1

      You have no idea how ridiculous that comment is in the context of a very *very* right-wing home secretary.

    6. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Because that's what you are suggesting all your Subjects do...

      She's not the queen, you know: not every female in a senior position in the UK is isomorphic to the queen.

      I knew that; but I am not familiar enough with British terminology to figure out what to call them. "Citizens" is not correct though, right?

    7. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're forgetting something though, the most important piece of information to take away from this: Amber Rudd doesn't think the government are "real people".
      They don't exist. If only that were true.

      Luddites and technical illiterates should not be running government.

    8. Re: So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It says "British Citizen" on my passport, even if you personally don't consider it the correct terminology, it's the one used officially.

    9. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Citizens" is correct, but we're not her citizens. Her country's citizens, yes.

    10. Re:So, Why Don't you Publish your IMs and Email? by Whibla · · Score: 1

      As a member of parliament (MP) she would traditionally be referred to as "the right honourable" something-or-other (usually mentioning which constituency she represents).

      However, like most of the Acts of Congress which have been passed in the last decade or so (PATRIOT Act, Safety and Security Bill (or w/e), etc.) this is a bit of a misnomer.

      Well, to call it a misnomer might actually be giving a slightly misleading impression. It would perhaps be more correct to call it an antonym.

      As to the rest of us, when talking about the general public with politics as the context, we'd be referred to simply as voters.

  10. Security/Usability is not an either/or proposition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Companies are constantly making trade-offs between security and 'usability,' and it is here where our experts believe opportunities may lie."

    Security and usability are two different things, at different levels of the software. There is no reason, other than lack of programming resources, why an app cannot be created with both a secure back-end and a usable front-end.

  11. Remember... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We're talking about the UK, where massive child sex rings are swept under the rug because it might make "Asians" look bad. When they say "terrorist" they probably mean "Leave voter"

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

      We're talking about the UK, where massive child sex rings are swept under the rug because it might make "Asians" look bad. When they say "terrorist" they probably mean "Leave voter"

      You forgot 400 acid attacks per 6 months.

      For a country who's faces are literally, falling the fuck off due to islamic terrorism they sure are concerned about "hate speech" and feels.

      Brixit1776 was the best thing to happen to the world. Sometimes the cancer IS the host.

    2. Re: Remember... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Twat.

    3. Re:Remember... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1. If massive child sex rings are swept under the rug, how come you know about it, you insufferably dim fucktard?
      2. Massive child sex rings are run by lots of white people too, including some of the scandals you "think" you know about as being "Asian", you racist dimwitted prat.
      3. The people who are saying "terrorist" are the *government* who are *pushing through Brexit* and greedily sucking the tiny shrivelled cocks of the angry old men who voted Leave, you unspeakably dim auto-reacting dickwad.

  12. Tell that to... by Misagon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Tell that to former opposition politicians in Turkey and Venezuela ...

    Do you really think something similar couldn't happen in the UK? In twenty years? In forty years?
    You may not be around then, but the laws that are made now will.

    --
    "We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
    1. Re:Tell that to... by nnet · · Score: 2

      heh there hasn't been a British rebellion since, what, the 1700s? and they left Britain. given whats happened to Britons since, you'd think they'd have had TONS of reasons to do so, yet they don't. Why do you suppose that is. /rhetorical

    2. Re:Tell that to... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      In twenty years? In forty years?

      Brexit will be here long before that.

    3. Re:Tell that to... by jabuzz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Wrong 1832, and the civil unrest leading up to the passing of the Great Reform Act. The final clincher was when the general public withdrew money to the tune of 25% of the gold the bank hand on deposit at the time.

  13. Sure, But he's "real people" too by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just ban all use outside the military of end to end encryption. Politicians should appreciate the transparency and ease their communications can be monitored.

    --
    - Tjp

    I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

    1. Re:Sure, But he's "real people" too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ayyyyyyyyyyyyy lmao

    2. Re:Sure, But he's "real people" too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, at first blush, that could work. But you know what would happen? All politicians over a certain level would be reclassified as "military" somehow and would be allowed to encrypt.

    3. Re:Sure, But he's "real people" too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just ban all use outside the military of end to end encryption. Politicians should appreciate the transparency and ease their communications can be monitored.

      Obviously politicians are not real people.

    4. Re: Sure, But he's "real people" too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm military too. Private army of one perhaps, but military...

  14. Encrypt it all. by fish_in_the_c · · Score: 1

    Once there was a town where all the houses were made of glass.
    Then someone invented paint so people didn't see each other naked.
    Then the police said we need to get rid of all this paint because seeing everyone naked is a great way to reduce crime.
    To wit the only real question was. Is it worth it?

    --
    âoeTolerance applies only to persons, but never to truth. Intolerance applies only to truth, but never to persons.
    1. Re:Encrypt it all. by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 2

      I don't even like seeing them clothed, forget about nekkid!

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    2. Re:Encrypt it all. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't give them ideas or the next version of the buildings regs will mandate all buildings be made entirely of glass, for exactly this reason....

  15. I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and BUCKETS of cheese, okay? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal?

    --
    A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    1. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and BUCKETS of cheese, okay? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal?

      "Demolition Man"... awesome movie.

    2. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lrn2ThreeShells, n00b.

    3. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mostly a good quote. But, only assholes want to smoke in the non-smoking section. Fuck you!

    4. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Pfhorrest · · Score: 1

      Thank you.

      --
      -Forrest Cameranesi, Geek of all Trades
      "I am Sam. Sam I am. I do not like trolls, flames, or spam."
    5. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      You can shorten it to "Only assholes want to smoke".

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    6. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by strikethree · · Score: 1

      I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and BUCKETS of cheese, okay? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal?

      Actually, all of that sounds like fun except the smoking in the no-smoking area. If people do not want to be around smoke, I would feel like I am imposing on them by smoking in their vicinity. When walking down the street smoking a cigarette, i step to the very edge of the sidewalk and make sure I am not blowing out smoke as I walk past people.

      I should be able to do what I want, but I need to make sure I do not physically affect others in doing what they want. That being said, if I am smoking and someone comes into the area I am in, fuck'em if they don't like the smoke. They came to me.

      And yeah I do not care if they are offended by seeing my naked jello covered body with a huge boner while reading Playboy magazine; although, to be quite honest, it is difficult to read and run at the same time... but I assume you did not mean actual running. ;)

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
    7. Re:I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by CodeHxr · · Score: 1

      Wait... you're talking about actually reading the articles?!

    8. Re: I don't give a shit what he thinks I need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course. Playboy has some awesome articles. I look at the girls too, of course. ;-)

      On my phone so not logged in. Sorry.

  16. Math. by ewhenn · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll perform any math I choose with who I want when I want. Thank you very much.

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

      That's exactly what makes you a threat.

    2. Re:Math. by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      For using "math" in singular form. Quite right.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    3. Re:Math. by Pfhorrest · · Score: 1

      "Mathematics" is singular. Do you say "mathematics is..." or "mathematics are..."?

      "Maths" is an error based on misunderstanding that fact.

      --
      -Forrest Cameranesi, Geek of all Trades
      "I am Sam. Sam I am. I do not like trolls, flames, or spam."
    4. Re:Math. by Shimbo · · Score: 2

      "Maths" is an error based on misunderstanding that fact.

      Nonsense, maths is a shortening of mathematics. It's perfectly valid to pick some letters from the start and the end when shortening a word. Saying it's based on pluralizing math is just completely bogus etymology.

      http://grammarist.com/spelling...

    5. Re:Math. by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      "Mathematics" is singular.

      And it shortens to "maths."

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    6. Re:Math. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tell me more about this smutty math. For... science. Yeah, that's the ticket!

  17. Get Real. by AnotherBlackHat · · Score: 1

    Real Government doesn't need to spy on it's citizens.

    1. Re: Get Real. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're not a real goverment, they're a minority goverment; a bunch of snivelling cretins led by a puritanical robot.

    2. Re:Get Real. by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Real Government doesn't need to spy on it's citizens.

      They do if you want some sort of law and order.


      Like with the Laffer curve, too much and too little both produce sub optimal results. The trick is how much...

  18. Not helping at all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If all the popular messengers would be unencrypted, the terrorists would surely find someone who would write them their own encrypted one. This is just one more example of law/idea that makes things bad for the good people and doesn't affect the bad people at all.
    Having your own encrypted messenger is illegal now? That will definitely stop people planning terrorist attacks...

  19. If the UK wants to reduce Terrorism by Zombie+Ryushu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They need to stop permitting Saudi inspired Colonialism in London.

    I draw a stark difference between Shia, Amadi, Sikh, Hindu, and other refugees who come to Britain in the interest of co-existing in a Pluralistic society in the UK, they should be welcome, they should be met with understanding, and tolerance.

    Then there is the attempt by the Saudis to create a puppet State in a section of London. The Sunni Wahabis are creating several such puppet states all over Europe. Its colonialism, and it needs to be stopped. They need to stop the flow of Saudi money, pro-Saudi propaganda, shut down and dismantle Sharia courts, prosecute cases of FGM, and arrest radical gangs.

    The Saudis foment racism just as bad as any white Supremacists do in the US. While it has been a largely internal matter for the Saudis, there are Saudis promoting a return of Black African slavery, and female sex slavery. They are actively commiting a Genocide against the Shia Houthis in Yemen. They nearly massacred the Yazitis.

    Look, the truth is the war on Terrorism is really the war against Saudi inspired Sunni Wahabi aggression. The Saudis started it, and it won't end until the Saudi regime falls. If we ever want to live in peace and security again, the Saudis have to be stopped.

    1. Re: If the UK wants to reduce Terrorism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yet trump just sold $100 billion of military goods to them. The whole things a disaster. Fuck the Saudis they did 911.

  20. Plenty of completely legal contact that is none.. by Tyr07 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    of your business.

    If someone plans a divorce. If someone wants to make a purchase on a house, etc etc. List goes on forever, why? Because information is power and people will use it to prepare and manipulate. It doesn't have to be illegal.

    Like what if someone wanted to motivate a lot of people to use their legal rights to vote down leadership they found shitty? Well, if you knew in advance what people were doing, you could accidentally end up on a no fly list and that it was a mistake, and they promise to remove you..but uh..the process is slow and may take the next few months..you know, until the election is over to get you removed.

    There's plenty of dirty legal tricks people can do to royally fuck with someone and mess up timing of things. End to end encryption should be required.
    What if the government is doing something shady? If they're shady as fuck and let's face it, the information age shows they're still as shady as they have been since the days of monarchs, then they won't suddenly investigate the shit out of you and disrupt your life for reasons of national security that they can't reveal?

    God yes they would do it. We all know they do / will / can. They fear encryption because it's hard to know what to lie about and if people are on to your lies if you can't read them talking about it.

  21. Um.... by jddj · · Score: 1

    If Ms. Rudd thinks end-to-end encryption isn't helping to fight the enemy, I think she's confused about who the enemy is.

    She'll need a mirror to find out who.

  22. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I take it they are led by Emperor Palpatine.

    1. Re:The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism? by gweihir · · Score: 1

      They are. Are you not on the side of truth and justice?

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  23. After all, we all know... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

    If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

    1. Re:After all, we all know... by mark-t · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Even if that position were true, it is irrelevant... since everyone, and I mean *EVERYONE*, including Ms Rudd, has something to hide.

      But having something to hide does not mean that there is anything wrong, it can be simply because they simply want something to be private.

      I mean, most people wear clothes when they are socializing with others. Is there something wrong with people's bodies that they need to keep them covered up? (There very well be for some, but this is beside the point). I am, of course, being rhetorical... people generally keep their privates covered up when they are in public because they are just that: private.

      So to suggest that real people don't need end-to-end encryption is saying that real people don't really need any privacy. I'd like to see what she'd have to say if she were made aware that by extension, she should be required to never wear any clothes anymore.... unless she contends that she herself is not a real person.

    2. Re:After all, we all know... by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 2

      If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

      Or close the door in your bathroom when you go to do your business. After all these years, these nitwits have yet to grasp the concept of privacy.

    3. Re: After all, we all know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck you, fish tits!.

  24. I guess I'm not real? by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    To be honest, I've always suspected that I was fictional.

  25. Ah, the "No True Scotsman" position. by mark-t · · Score: 1

    link

    Ms. Rudd should be called out quite clearly for employing such blatant logical fallacy.

    1. Re: Ah, the "No True Scotsman" position. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck you, fish tits!

  26. Re:Security/Usability is not an either/or proposit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And if she truly believes that there is a trade-off and that "people often prefer ease of use and a multitude of features to perfect, unbreakable security", then that's called a business insight. The next step for her is to create or invest in a company that will produce a messaging app focused on ease of use and features as opposed to encryption. That way her insight is tested on the market and she'll make money if she's right. The next step after a business insight is not legislation.

  27. As An Unreal Person... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As an unreal person, I don't know if she is correct. But, as an unreal person, I'll take my end-to-end encryption thanks.

    On anther note... Does she realize that terrorists are whispering in the shadows, without encryption, and she is unable to hear them? What ever will she do about that?

  28. Losing a grip by Infiniti2000 · · Score: 2

    The more you tighten your grip, Amber Rudd, the more users will slip through your fingers.

  29. I live in Venezuela - MOD PARENT UP!!!! by williamyf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Caps Intended

    --
    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
  30. Real governments by spikenerd · · Score: 1

    don't need to inspect private communications in order to preserve freedom.

  31. electronic payments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tell me how secure electronic banking can work with secure transactions?
    For individuals,
    How about web payments? How about web access to your banking?

  32. I've never used it but... by kelemvor4 · · Score: 1

    Isn't encryption pretty much the only reason to use whatsapp? There's far easier software to use if you don't care about encryption.. facebook, aol instant messenger, IRC... there's probably only about 5,000 different options.

  33. ahh, not this crap, again. by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    I think be "real" she really meant "little".

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:ahh, not this crap, again. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently "real" is the euphemism for the proles.
      "The proles don't need anything except bread and circuses."

    2. Re:ahh, not this crap, again. by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      No, she meant "small" people.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  34. Symptomatic of the May-hem Government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unfortunately, since 37.4% of registered voters decided to drag us out of the EU (aka "a clear, democratic majority"), causing the collapse of the Cameron government, our cabinet now consists of a load of politicians who struggle to work out the difference between their arses and elbows. Here's a hint: some of those arses are currently trying to negotiate leaving the EU, although they seem unclear what exactly the EU is.

    Amber Rudd is just one of the many fuckwits allegedly running the country. At least this latest statement is a step up from her demanding access to the hashtags (sic) used by encryption software.

    Best of all, 2/3rds of those who voted for us to leave the EU have said they want it to happen even if the UK economy is totally destroyed in the process, and they and their families lose their jobs. The whole country is overrun by fuckwits.

  35. COMMONERS don't need encryption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's what this woman sounds like. "You COMMON PEASANTS don't NEED 'encryption', that's only for IMPORTANT people like the NOBLES and the RICH. Be happy you're ALLOWED to use the Internet and have fancy devices like smartphones at all. Now, all of you RABBLE be quiet and DO AS YOU ARE TOLD WHEN YOU ARE TOLD." Fuck her, sideways with a rusty, Ebola-infested chainsaw.

  36. Real people do not become politicians either by gweihir · · Score: 1

    Because they are neither stupid nor dishonest enough for that.

    Now, a recent trend seems to be that real people have stopped to recognize how stupid and dishonest politicians are, and that one is worrying.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:Real people do not become politicians either by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Speaking my own personal experience, and the people that I've seen get elected in the places that I've lived, it is entirely possible for an honest person to become a politician... but it is, regrettably, quite rare... and rarer still for people to recognize it before they vote. I can only attest to having seen it for sure one time in the 45 years since I've been old enough to vote.

    2. Re:Real people do not become politicians either by gweihir · · Score: 1

      Well, flukes do happen.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    3. Re: Real people do not become politicians either by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck you, fish tits!..!

  37. I mean technically no, but then there's predatory by exabrial · · Score: 1

    I mean technically no... nobody cares what I'm saying to my friends on a daily basis. But a private conversation can be spun 1000x ways when you don't understand the relationship or context. ...with extreme amount of sleaze bag lawyers, district attorneys, and predatory prosecutors we have, it's just good insurance to protect your private conversations.

  38. sooner she's out of power, the better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't even use WhatsApp because it's Facebook and I don't trust them.

    I use Signal.

    If the State enforces non-secure communications, then I will stop communicating.

  39. Amber Rudd is a bint. by newdsfornerds · · Score: 1

    Another win for feminism.

    --
    Damping absorbs vibrations. Dampening is caused by moisture.
  40. Stupid cunt. by jcr · · Score: 2

    Honestly, how in the world does someone with so little understanding of data security ever get into any position of authority over innocent people's privacy?

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:Stupid cunt. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because there's no SQEP requirement for cabinet ministers. (Admittedly if there were, we would have trouble appointing a single cabinet minister, ever.) But also, because of this, cabinet ministers just parrot what their civil servants tell them. Civil servants don't change each election, and the civil servants in charge of counter terrorism are focused on this and don't give a damn about anything else, including the much greater security concerns such as the inability to keep personal data secure without encryption. Thus, they keep pushing clueless home secretaries to ban encryption because it will help their very narrow goals, and the home secretaries, being not SQEP, go along with them.

      A sensible version of upper house reform might be to appoint peers based on skills and non-political experience in particular fields, and require that each department is headed by both a Commoner and a SQEP peer, and nothing gets done unless they both agree.

  41. Quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I find it amusing that no one has noticed in the article, that Ms. Rudd herself says that the government wants this for operations that are not technically legal.

    From the article itself, not far under the video.
    "It’s a problem for the security services and for police who are not, under the normal way, under properly warranted paths, able to access that information."

    This quote only shows those who follow the logic of "Well what do you have to hide?" that the government is not acting in the best legal interests of its citizens.

    I'm not sure how the left and right have gotten so far away from right and wrong and started simply fighting each other, instead of looking out for their constituencies.A sad state of politics, even in the UK. I mean, I know the UK is upset over losing to the Americans all those years ago, but I would think that losing to them would make you /not/ want to emulate their worst parts.

    1. Re:Quote by Whibla · · Score: 2

      I find it amusing that no one has noticed in the article, that Ms. Rudd herself says that the government wants this for operations that are not technically legal.

      From the article itself, not far under the video.
      "It's a problem for the security services and for police who are not, under the normal way, under properly warranted paths, able to access that information."

      This quote only shows those who follow the logic of "Well what do you have to hide?" that the government is not acting in the best legal interests of its citizens.

      Your reading of the article is incorrect. I have separated the 'complicated bit' into bold and italic clauses to clarify which bits go together. Essentially what she's complaining about is that even if they have a legally obtained warrant the people tasked with catching the bad guys are still unable to read those bad guys' communications.

      For all the fact I disagree with what she's proposing, and her arguments 'supporting' her proposals, this is a valid concern.

      It's just a shame there's no easy solution to the problem...

  42. If killers thieves and liars say you don't need it by BozoForPresident · · Score: 1

    Real people don't need some grasping, piece of shit politician - a fucking criminal (killer, thief, liar) doing business as 'government', pretending to 'know better' and make decisions on their behalf, in their 'best interests'. To the English 'home secretary' - fucking kill yourself.

  43. Another stupid and ignorant politician by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    Of which there seem be a lot these days in the UK. It is scary that such ignoramuses are making decisions that will be affecting our lives for years to come.

  44. Could someone please dump his private emails ... by Qbertino · · Score: 1

    ... on to wikileaks or something? Preferably including subscription confirmations to porn-sites and such? Thanks. ... Jesus H.B. Crickey, how I hate these idiots.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
  45. Cake and eating it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Real people often prefer ease of use and a multitude of features to perfect, unbreakable security ... Who uses WhatsApp because it is end-to-end encrypted, rather than because it is an incredibly user-friendly and cheap way of staying in touch with friends and family? Companies are constantly making trade-offs between security and 'usability,' and it is here where our experts believe opportunities may lie.

    Sorry but I really don't follow her logic here. She makes it sound like they're mutually exclusive, yet in the same breath gives an example of a company who has millions of users because they're easy to use and have rolled out end-to-end encryption at the same time. No trade-off required.

    And a significant part of their "real" user base did want that feature after the NSA revelations. They didn't roll it out for no reason, they did so in response to uproar from their users when they found out how widespread breach of privacy was.

  46. Dear idiot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Getting a terrorist isn't achieved by decrypting everybody's private messages and making fraud, identity theft, extortion and the likes waaaaay easier than it is now.

    If you want to get Mr. Terrorist, you've got to do the old stile intelligence work. Which means actual hard labor; Which costs money. Yesyes, you don't want to spend money and think that listening in on everybody will net you Mr. Terrorist. I'll tell you something simple:

    Mr. Terrorist is trying everything in his power to remain undetected, so he won't conveniently sms that he will plant a bomb at busy place X, so you can find him.

    Trying to kill encryption for the masses, will not keep it out of the hands of Mr. Terrorist. Mr. Terrorist already has moved beyond whatsapp. Sneakernet still exists today, you know... and in order to intercept communication via sneakernet, you need intelligence the old way: hard work.

    But, because privacy got killed, you now have endless options for man-in-the-middle attacks by all kinds of evil-doers. But hey! You "conveniently" forget about that. You "conveniently" forget about the possibilities for fraud, identity theft, harassment and other crimes this would open.

    Dear idiot. Measures like these will only affect those you are trying to "protect." In reality it's just another oppression tool, isn't it?

  47. Blocking uploads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Darn, Consider this my last post then.

    1. Re:Blocking uploads by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 2

      Nice try Anonymous Coward. I still see more posts from you.

      --
      Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
  48. 'real' governments by jmccue · · Score: 4, Insightful

    'Real' governments do not need to hide their operations and finances from their citizens

  49. Real governments don't need to snoop on everyone by Balial · · Score: 1

    Two can play the name calling game. Man up and learn to govern and police and quit trying to take the easy way out, politicians.

  50. Right... by EndlessNameless · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "substantially disrupt terrorists' ability to use the internet in furthering their causes, while also respecting human rights."

    Last time I checked, privacy is a human right. This is true in the US, and it is equally true in the UK (until Brexit is completed, at the very least).

    If the right to privacy cannot cover something as basic as free speech, what good is it?

    --

    ---
    According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
    1. Re:Right... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Last time I checked, privacy is a human right. This is true in the US, and it is equally true in the UK (until Brexit is completed, at the very least).

      If the right to privacy cannot cover something as basic as free speech, what good is it?

      Maybe the issue is a little more complex than a one line statement?

    2. Re:Right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where did you check? 'Rights' are something nobody can take away from you. Privacy has never been included there ... technology just enhances the methods of taking it from you. Sorry to disappoint you.

  51. Like every other politician I'm sure this doesn't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know if the tech companies did comply she'd be the first one to seek end to end encryption for herself. The solution is always easy when its someone elses ox that's being gored.

  52. Organized Crime by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, the British police never take any tips from the informants through common messaging apps?

  53. ThughtCrime by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 1

    >Who uses WhatsApp because it is end-to-end encrypted, rather than because it is an incredibly user-friendly and cheap way of staying in touch with friends and family?

    I do! Some of my friends and family are in countries without the freedom of speech protections of the United States and the United Kingdom. ThoughtCrime can get you in a lot of trouble in large parts of the world.

    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
  54. My point exactly... by Dread_ed · · Score: 4, Interesting

    When someone, somewhere, anywhere even, says that I don't need end-to-end encryption I take it as a sure sign that I desperately, immediately need end-to-end encryption on everything.

    If they weren't deeply invested in being able to see everything I send to anyone they wouldn't even care about making such an announcement. That they are saying this means they are being frustrated by the idea of private communication. Good. Fuck them.

    You want the details of my communication? Fine, start up a conversation with me and whatever I send you is yours to do with as you wish. Or check what I post online under my real name. Any other viewing of my private communications is a violation of my privacy you authoritarian shit bag, and requires a warrant and a damn good reason.

    --
    When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.
    1. Re:My point exactly... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Any other viewing of my private communications is a violation of my privacy you authoritarian shit bag, and requires a warrant and a damn good reason.

      And what if they have a warrant but still can't access the information?
      What if that lack of access results in people dying?
      We're all aware of the danger of too much surveillance, but there also exists an issue of too little. The use of the an independent court system has been very effective at maintaining a healthy balance of law and order, but encryption is putting this at risk. How do you propose we mitigate this risk?

    2. Re:My point exactly... by jaminJay · · Score: 1

      Rubber hose decryption, like they've used for centuries.

      --
      Leela: "Is all the work done by children?" Alien: "No, not the whipping."
    3. Re:My point exactly... by Vektuz · · Score: 1

      I'm okay with it. I'll accept the risk.

    4. Re:My point exactly... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just because u ban encryption, it doesn't mean it makes terrorists any easier to survey. They are going to use their own encryption messenging app, they don't have to use Whatsapp.

    5. Re:My point exactly... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if two people have a whispered conversation in their own shower while it is running with the radio and television on to mask their conversation.
      When They have a warrant but can't access the information from listening in? I guess we will have to ban whispering, and radio and tv and showers.

    6. Re:My point exactly... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      I'm okay with it. I'll accept the risk.

      That's nice. Unfortunately for you, this is democracy and other people's opinions count too.

    7. Re:My point exactly... by schleimkeim · · Score: 1

      We're all aware of the danger of too much surveillance, but there also exists an issue of too little

      No. There is not.

    8. Re:My point exactly... by Whibla · · Score: 1

      I'm ok with it too, and accept the risk.

      Were you planning on 'requiring' everybody to register their opinion?

      *And beware over-glorification of democracy, after all that's how we (the UK) ended up voting to leave the EU, even though less than half the population voted to do so. We also voted against changing the way we voted (i.e the Alternative Vote) a few years ago, even though, with the possible exception of one or two edge cases, it was a 'fairer' system.

      It was Churchill who said "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter", and while I can see the irony in quoting a politician 'arguing' against democracy in a thread dealing with the plans of a Home Secretary who would love nothing more than to do away with democracy, you have to admit he did have a point.

      Unlike myself... ;-)

      As you were.

    9. Re:My point exactly... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's nice. Unfortunately for you, this is democracy and other people's opinions count too.

      Yes, well.

      That's nice. Unfortunately for you, this is democracy and other people's opinions count too.

      It goes both ways, you know.

    10. Re:My point exactly... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      No. There is not.

      Good well thought out response....

    11. Re:My point exactly... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      I'm ok with it too, and accept the risk.

      Of course you are, until someone takes all your stuff you cry like a bitch that not enough is being done to protect you.

      It was Churchill who said "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter"

      Churchill also said "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others". So unless you another another suggestion, we're stuck with democracy, and based on all recent elections, most people prefer a little security in their lives.

    12. Re:My point exactly... by Whibla · · Score: 1

      I'm ok with it too, and accept the risk.

      Of course you are, until someone takes all your stuff you cry like a bitch that not enough is being done to protect you.

      You don't know me, so I'll forgive your projection.

      It was Churchill who said "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter"

      Churchill also said "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others". So unless you another another suggestion, we're stuck with democracy, and based on all recent elections, most people prefer a little security in their lives.

      Actually I do have another suggestion, although it's not aimed at doing away with democracy just elections. The short version is to have a government actually of the people, where our MP's are chosen in the same way as we choose juries, randomly. This system, known as sortition, completely negates the worst aspects, as I see it, of politics, although it does introduce other 'issues' that would need to be addressed (that's in the long version).

      And, yes, once more I am keenly aware of the irony of disparaging the 'average voter' then suggesting they be made an MP. Fortunately I can see shades of grey...

    13. Re:My point exactly... by Dread_ed · · Score: 1

      Too bad. You could get a warrant for lots of things and come up empty, encryption notwithstanding.
      People die all the time. Lives are important. You see this only when they are threatened with death. I see it when every moment is being threatened with scrutiny from faceless government systems designed specifically to eliminate the privacy of everyone. You can't live with the idea of people dying, and I can't live with the idea of living a life that is not free.
      The use of an "independent court system" has led to an overuse of surveillance in every aspect of our lives. You think it's a good thing to beg for more? You would be pitiable if your ideas weren't so damn dangerous to all of us.
      The way I see it, you are the risk. You support the kind of intrusion into my life that I find completely unacceptable. And it is only with the complicit support of dangerous fools like you that our governments keep ratcheting it up.

      TL;DR: If the reaction to terrorism is to hand you own government the power and mandate to create a surveillance state, maybe the terrorists are right.

      --
      When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.
    14. Re:My point exactly... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      You would be pitiable if your ideas weren't so damn dangerous to all of us..

      And here's the rub. I live in a society that has some of the longest life expectancy, lowest crime, highest quality of life, lowest corruption ever seen in human existence. And it comes at a cost that most people find acceptable. So by definition if you followed theses same ideas you would likely have less danger, not more.

      TL;DR:

      Quite clearly you are too lazy to read since you missed the point of my post...

  55. Since users won't care by MerlynEmrys67 · · Score: 2

    Can I get VC funding to create a Whatsapp clone that simply forwards ALL messages from person A to person B to the NSA branches off all government (USA, UK, France, Russia, China, North and South Korea, Iraq, Iran, all 198 or so of them). I should be able to raise simple VC to fund the project - and since users don't care grab a 50 percent market share (because they don't care it is flip a coin on if it is me or it is Whatsapp). Since this is an advertised feature vs Whatsapp's advertised feature of end to end security - we can judge how important this feature is to end users.

    VC please send your offer sheets to me here, I am willing to give away 25% non-voting shares in exchange for 10% of the valuation of Whatsapp/WeChat/something similar

    --
    I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them
    1. Re:Since users won't care by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 1

      Please call it 'ShatChat'?

    2. Re:Since users won't care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SnitChat

    3. Re:Since users won't care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ShitFlap? That's mostly what I see people do on there anyway...

  56. interesting logic, if you believe in 1984 by evolutionary · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sure, real people don't need encryption, and honest people don't need privacy. (You can trust marketing companies....TRUST me). No one will abuse people's personal info as long as it's public and available to all, especially the government. Of course that logic might 50% apply if you always agreed with your government (like Trump), never voiced an opinion that that created inconvenience for those in power and never wanted a meaning opinion voiced. Mao believed in all this too, as does Putin. But do we really want to be in such company directly or indirectly?

    Snowden correctly stated: You only have nothing to hide, if you have nothing to say.. Another famous quote by Benjamin Franklin: "Those who give up their civil liberties for a little extra safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

    --
    "Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Einstein
    1. Re:interesting logic, if you believe in 1984 by ryanmc1 · · Score: 1

      Amen. I wish I had mod points

    2. Re:interesting logic, if you believe in 1984 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The actual Franklin quote is, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

      In context, it wasn't a defence of civil rights at all, but a specific rebuttal of the Penn family's attempts to block taxation levelled by the governing assembly.

      Your point, however, remains entirely valid.

    3. Re:interesting logic, if you believe in 1984 by evolutionary · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure why someone marked you as "zero" because your point is certainly informative and thanks for that. Of course the definition of "essential liberty" is up for grabs in this context. But I personally consider the civil liberties that many fought hard to secure essential to an truly honest government. (Otherwise you have tyranny in my view like China, Russa, North Korea, and possibly Poland (signed some controversial law expanding presidential powers there) if they aren't careful. Thailand would also qualify. But as you point is again valid and I think you for properly informing us. If I had any moderation points I'd give you one. (or 2 if I could). Thanks.

      --
      "Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Einstein
  57. Security is the primary consideration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I choose a chat app based almost entirely on its security. If you've ever seen what the local police get when they tower dump SMS traffic, you would too. And because of crazy government spy shit like Stingrays,you NEED end to end encryption. https://www.citylab.com/equity/2016/10/racial-disparities-in-police-stingray-surveillance-mapped/502715/ In the USA, government spying itself is the reason I need E2E crypto. Like, Duh.

  58. MOD THIS UP by Bruce66423 · · Score: 1

    Great idea for a CV!

  59. Let the politicians lead for once by Snotnose · · Score: 1

    Don't let them use end to end encryption for their banking, stock market fiddling, and buying stuff over the internet with a credit card. Come on, it's only right!

    2 weeks of this and these bankrupt assholes might find the clue pile.

  60. Real People by duke_cheetah2003 · · Score: 1

    Real people often prefer ease of use and a multitude of features to perfect, unbreakable security ... Who uses WhatsApp because it is end-to-end encrypted, rather than because it is an incredibly user-friendly and cheap way of staying in touch with friends and family? Companies are constantly making trade-offs between security and 'usability,' and it is here where our experts believe opportunities may lie.

    This statement is so full of darkness it makes me sick. Inferring that certain people on this planet, whom biologically are definitely people, but they're not people. This is a total error and very disturbing to classify -any- group of people as 'not real.' Or less than people. Regardless of justifications, this is just disturbing.

    As much as I dislike invoking Godwin's law, but this just smacks of something you'd hear a NAZI say. Disgusting.

    Encryption isn't even a word I saw or gave any thought to. The classification of any group as 'not real people' just turns my stomach and flies in the face of rationality and civility. This person classifying a group of people as 'not real people' based on their preference for security is just appalling.

    Sickening. This kind of thinking has no place in our world. Or it shouldn't. That it does, and doesn't spark a chorus of outrage is disturbing in itself.

  61. Remember Ireland by Bruce66423 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That was part of the UK and descended into total chaos over the independence issue. Just because we've avoided issues for centuries doesn't mean that it couldn't all go horribly wrong; if Corbyn is win an election - especially if there was significant hints of electoral abuses.

    And remember 'A Very British Coup' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  62. Ignorant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not sufficient to say she's ignorant. That makes her sound too educated. It's more communicative to say she is igger-unt.

  63. Re:Plenty of completely legal contact that is none by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1

    My pet analogy: I don't have anything to hide, but damned if I want a camera in my bathroom.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  64. You know, Ms. Home Secretary May Be Right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think some 'terrorism' is much overdue against these terrorist thugs calling themselves a government.

  65. Burglarsayswhat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Burglars: "real people" don't need locks on their doors.
    Embezzlers: "real people" don't need audits on their accounts.
    Rapists and muggers: "real people" don't need Mace.

  66. And when terror still happens regularly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And when lovely moslem migrants still regularly commit/praise acts of terror? Then what's the excuse?
    Filthy islamophobic white people provoking the lovely moslem migrants?

    What about when the lovely moslem migrants rape and kill each other?
    They couldn't possibly be islamophobic.

    White genocide is real.

  67. Re:Plenty of completely legal contact that is none by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I like this version: "It's no secret what I do in the bathroom, but I still close the door."

  68. We are not just real people by GuB-42 · · Score: 1

    We are more complex than that.

    1. Re:We are not just real people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the other hand, I'm entirely imaginary.

  69. what we don't need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What real people don't need is a pompous, ignorant ass like Amber Rudd for Home Secretary.

  70. Hidden meaning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Real People ...

    Is that a code-word for "natural persons"? Because 'natural persons' is a legal term meaning not a business and subject to the laws of the government. In other words, she is making a loophole where businesses (and government) can use encrypted messaging apps: It's only person-to-person messages that have to be plain-text. I imagine, a number of people want to discuss sexual issues but don't want thugs with guns (eg. the government) knowing who they are fucking (eg. homosexuals, prostitutes, fetishists). It's important to remember that surveillance is retroactive: What was legal yesterday can be illegal today. Which is very ugly when the government knows who someone has been talking to and what about.

  71. Attorney-Client Privelege by DERoss · · Score: 1

    If I were involved in a lawsuit (civil, not criminal) and wanted to send relevant documentation to my attorney, I would definitely want end-to-end encryption. After all, there have been real instances of attorneys and their private investigators engaging in illegal practices in attempts to gain sensitive data about their opponents.

    For other reasons why end-to-end encryption might be important to non-terrorists, see my http://www.rossde.com/PGP/pgp_....

  72. Cupid stunt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am conviced she does understand. Personally this type of argument has come from politicians from all of the five eyes and i feel that certain agencies may be running this show. I wonder what they have on Amber Rudd other than the fact she is a cunt.

  73. You are the core definition of fascism by Koby77 · · Score: 1

    ...says the person who declares themself judge, jury, and executioner.

  74. "Real People" don't need.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Real People" don't need to protect their rights. That's what government is for.

  75. Regular mail analogy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Regular people don't need an envelope that keeps the contents confidential when sending mail. They can use postcards that anyone can read whenever they interact by mail with their doctor, bank, or other businesses. Next time my credit card is up for renewal I'll ask the bank to make the envelope completely transparent so that the authorities can confirm that there's nothing nefarious in there.

  76. Following that logic by ryanmc1 · · Score: 1

    Real people must also not need locks on their doors, because the only reason to lock your door is so that no one can see your illegal activities. Forget protecting your property, that is like protecting your privacy, not important to the government.

  77. No one saw this coming? by MindPrison · · Score: 1

    It should be obvious by now.

    The U.K. Gov. wants total control of their citizens. They've shut the borders now, makes it a little easier to see and control who's going anywhere or who stays in their country, not to mention - WHO gets to stay there.

    Internet & telephone usage information storage, mandated by law. Just so anything you say CAN and WILL be used against you, if so need be. CCTV monitoring everywhere (U.K. has the worlds largest CCTV monitoring system).

    The "if you got nothing to hide, then you don't have to worry" fallacy is a sentence made to mislead the feeble minded. Because anyone with at least half a brain understand that information is power. You're displeased with the place you work, so you talk to your friends about this, you email, you chat online with them. Now what if that employer were government, and someone was looking into you, and then got this information? Do you honestly think they'd improve your life? They would do what THEY THINK is BEST for THEMSELVES, and you'd essentially be screwed.

    Not to mention how we as humans judge each other every day of our life. Oh, that kid is no good because his father did something wrong, or there must be something wrong with "Susan" because her mother was under psychological treatment back in 1984. Even tho there is nothing wrong with her today, this kind of digging into families lives - will essentially destroy them.

    I'm simply astonished that the population of U.K. are willingly accepting a government like that.

    --
    What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
    1. Re:No one saw this coming? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please don't think that all of us in the UK are willing supporters of this.

      We (like the US and many other 'democracies') have a system where there are a few (mainly two) major parties and a huge barrier to entry for political newcomers. A 'first past the post' voting system and well entrenched constituencies [safe seats] mean that in reality only people in a few "marginal constituencies" have any effect on the outcome; where I live Jimmy Savile or Fred West** would be guaranteed a place if they had the right coloured rosette.

      We also have a partisan press in which the right wing publications vastly outnumber the centrist or left. In general [nearly] all papers pander to public opinion and react to whatever threat (real or confected) they can exploit at any time.

      TV is not much better [though since the BBC and Channel 4 get criticised by both sides politically and by a huge amount of the tabloid press they're probably less to blame than their competition].

      As recent political events and elections have shown on both sides of the Atlantic, calm rational debate (of the kind we geeks favour) doesn't get votes; big sweeping appeals to emotion (fear, vengeance, identifying a group as "other to us" and targetting them for blame) does.

      This ends up with a choice between two very similar alternatives, neither of which is attractive. On a separate, but related issue, a vast majority of UK members of parliament have gained their education in classics, history or in artistic subjects; very few have a scientific background -- expecting them to appreciate evidence based approaches and apply statistics and numeracy is like seeking athletics coaching from a couch potato -- they'll have an opinion but little understanding or experience.

      I hate to say it but the UK is not alone in this - look at recent elections around the world (eg US, France) and you'll see similar events unfolding.

      ** For non UK readers a high profile prolific paedophile and a serial murdered respectively

  78. Britain plays a MUCH dirtier game... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Despite the obscene new police state laws in the UK imposed since Blair first rose to power, the use of those powers is 'soft' and currently impacts few lives. BUT the 'example' of those laws is exported wholesale to second and thirld world nations- whose unpleasant leaders can say "if the British consider these powers reasonable, we can have them too.

    Where these disgusting British policies are replicated, they are immediately used to abuse the population and close down the opposition. Serving British police personnel actually oversee secret police activity in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

    So Tony Blair and his lieutenants are creating police state TEMPLATE systems for export across the planet.

    In the UK, people are far more concerned with the "your kids belong to the state" Blair laws that punish parents for daring to take their kids out of school for family holidays- no matter what their age (yet British schools have a long tradition of arranging term time holidays for the kids supervised by the school- somehow it is different when state authorities are doing the same thing).

    Blair has made Britain a cold, brutal, cowed society, where the tabloids are used to push coming social engineering agendas of the most vile type. Rupert Murdoch's organs, The BBC, ITV and Guardian newspaper are Blair's direct mouthpieces. Brits are living in 'Animal Farm' and scummy thickie Rudd is just squawking the dictats of a most demonic 'napoleon'.

    You Yanks would be now experiencing the same if Blair's apprentice, Clinton, had won the election. But you yanks now have a unified 'Clinton' congress instead demanding war with Iran and then Russia. Your unified 'Clinton' Congress is atrocity in motion, as you will soon discover.

    1. Re:Britain plays a MUCH dirtier game... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um. It's been more than a decade since Blair was PM. Your piercing insight is based on wanktastic fury rather than actual facts.

  79. Government by the people for the people by John+Bodin · · Score: 1

    Since governments and military are made up of "Real People" then they also do not need encryption on anything then right?

    --
    John
  80. It's about government convenience by Beeftopia · · Score: 1

    Government may not want me to lock my doors, so in the event law enforcement wants to come in to look around, they can simply turn the knob and come in.

    However, criminals will also have the same ease of entry.

    Answer's simple: Government needs to look at my data, they get a warrant, just like with entering a residence.

  81. Right then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Firewall off UK. Nothing of worth could possibly go on there. No banking security, no secure transmission of corporate data. Just cut them off and let them suffer.

  82. You First by plazman30 · · Score: 1

    "Real Governments" don't need encryption either, since they should have nothing to hide from their citizens. If only terrorists need encryption, then I say the government should lead by example.

  83. Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everybody needs, or should have the ability to use, end-to-end encryption in their messaging applications, for the purpose of protecting their privacy.

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

      By the way, why did it take so gorram long for slashdot to implement TLS???

  84. Uh-Huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The story on Slashdot right now about how the NSA was spying on Kim DotCom says otherwise.

    Since we can't trust YOU not to spy on US, I guess WE have to take matters into our own hands.

  85. Meanwhile in China... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In China, messaging has become the new platform for e-Commerce and payments. Nice to see the UK government holding back progress in the newly independant Britain by limiting the scope of messaging to casual chit-chat that "real people" don't care about being public. At least the EU has got rid of them now, so they don't need to get dragged back with these luddites.

  86. Not needed to find terrorists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since all of the miscreants involved in the recent islamist terrorist attacks in the UK were already known to the intelligence services - and in some cases were known to have been to Syria/Libya and returned - it's hard for the home secretary to argue that additionally removing encryption from messaging services will make us more safe. They already had enough information to monitor/arrest the suspected terrorists - they just didn't, for whatever reason.

  87. that's why you can now send money by the-build-chicken · · Score: 1

    Want to make a bet that being able to send money over iMessage is a pre-emptive strike against this kind of legislation. I mean sure, they wanted it eventually...but I would be $10 right now that there was a meeting at apple over pushing iMessage money transfers as fast as possible to counter this type of legislation. Because apple knows that no UK politician will attack the big financial institutions, and if they come after iMessage, they now also come after your banking app

  88. It would be a shame by rossz · · Score: 1

    If would be a shame if someone hacked into her private emails and text messages and made them public.

    A crying shame.

    --
    -- Will program for bandwidth
  89. Movie distribution? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So she's going to break SMPTE's x.509-based encryption of movies as delivered to theaters?

  90. Nothing to do with terrorism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This has absolutely nothing to do with terrorism. There is a single goal here: government monopoly of encryption technology. There's absolutely no way that industry in the UK can survive without encryption that it uses to day. If Rudd gets her way anyone who wants to sell/use encryption must obtain a license from the government and, unless they fit some arbitrary and meaningless criteria (i.e. Rudd's friends) they will be subjected to constant government oversight to ensure that the appropriate back doors are in place and the 'real' people aren't getting their hands on heir exclusive IP.

  91. The pointy end of the encryption "debate". by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is the issue (i.e. that if we could read all the messages sent by bad people then we'd be safer from those particular bad people).

    However, the response of bad people to a blanket encryption ban (because that's what is coming at us ALL like a freight train) is that they would start using unapproved encryption, retaining their ability to plan in secret. In the end, only law abiding people would have their legitimate use of encryption removed and the effect would be that bad people (including corrupt governments) would achieve a net gain from this.

    If you support an encryption ban (or official back doors, which is exactly the same thing), then you are giving the worst of the worst a leg up.

  92. Idiot politician by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wouldn't personally use a program without end to end encryption, precisely because I want to keep people like her out of my communications. Rudd is a danger to democracy, and a clear enemy of the people.

  93. It's sad that this idjit is in charge of anything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope she gets hacked from now until the time Doctor Who gets cancelled for good.

  94. In Other Words by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    They are trying to listen in on 'real people'.

  95. Real people by prefec2 · · Score: 1

    First of all: what are real people? In the sense of the vocabulary, real people exist while imaginary people only exist in one's mind. The latter do not need encryption. Real people do. However, she might have meant normal people. Unfortunately, she is an upper class person and therefore does not know normal people or at least have forgotten how they think an live and what their needs are. Therefore, it is either a lie or typical upper class narcicism or both.

    Normal people want to do banking or trading or legal stuff. All these things work only with encryption. They even want to send pictures to their friends and family and keep the images away from evil people who prank them who blackmail them etc.

  96. oh come on by schleimkeim · · Score: 1

    real politicians don't need bodyguards, a fence around their fancy house or bulletproof vests.

  97. Im not real then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those willing to sacrifice liberty for a little security deserve neither liberty nor security.

  98. Mod parent up by cjeze · · Score: 1

    nothing wrong with transparency. encryption is about hiding, signing is about identity and that no-one tampers with your messages. ftw.

  99. Real terrorists could easily write their own app by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is hardly difficult to write an app that does end to end message encryption. So introducing some sort of block on Whatsapp is a waste of effort.

  100. The government and end to end encryption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    because yeah, we can trust in your competence:
    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/aug/01/sweden-scrambles-to-tighten-data-security-as-scandal-claims-two-ministers

    And this is only the tip of the iceberg

  101. This wasn't the most stupid thing she argued by shilly · · Score: 1

    Everyone is focusing on the 'real people' statement, but the true idiocy is what she said just before:
    "I know some will argue that it's impossible to have both - that if a system is end-to-end encrypted then it's impossible ever to access the communication. That might be true in theory. But the reality is different."

    She appears to be asserting that there is some bizarre version of reality in which it is possible to have a system with end-to-end encryption and yet still be able to access the communication. How the *fuck* does that work? She is either stupid or disingenuous. Or both.

  102. Real governments dont need to snoop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On their citizens.

  103. People preferring features and ease... by John+Allsup · · Score: 1

    This is why mainstream OSs are so prone to malware, why hack-prone WordPress is so popular. It may be true, but it is not a good thing.

    --
    John_Chalisque
  104. In other news by bravecanadian · · Score: 1

    It has been confirmed that the UK Home Secretary is pants-on-head retarded.

  105. Disagreement isn't "real" by Fudoka · · Score: 1

    As far as Amber Rudd is concerned anyone who disagrees with her isn't a "real" person anyway. See https://www.craigmurray.org.uk...

  106. "conversations with tech must be confidential" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why? So she is not a real person, by her own definition.

    Well maybe she is just a hypocrite, telling other people they can't have what she so obviously wants for herself.

    #fail

  107. Yes we do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    End to end encryption not only protects criminals, but also protects regular people from MITM hijackers, ISPs spying on people, wifi hotspot advertisers spying on you for targetted ads, MITM advertisers hijacking web pages, circumventing content filters ( which often filter out tehnically legal content, like legal torrents, e.g. linux ISOs, which are legal and distributed primarily with torrents).

    End to end encryption protects against hackers and a single point of failure for the entire system. It's justgood design.

  108. Extremism is NOT terrorism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No need for any changes - warrants cover all things. We do not need peeping toms.

    Define in law, black and white what is terrorism and state that everything else is excluded. Wants and needs need definition.
    Terrorism and Pedophilia might be two items worthy of exceptions without a warrant. But the gate is being kept open - just like East Germany in the bad old days.
    Will they ignore murder or drug importations? Bribes and electoral donations?
    Will this include Anorexia, copyright issues, General revenue, VAT or parking fines in the future?
    We have Mr Dotcom in NZ who is has been illegally abused and they wonder why no one trusts the government.

    This is in very bad faith and dishonest at multiple levels. Not stated is that Google and others do snitch and cooperate where there is a warrant. And the terms and scope of the warrant can't be made into a fishing exercise. Britain will find out extreme parties may boot out stupid parties with more wants than brains.

  109. Ingsoc is here! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    War is Peace
    Freedom is Slavery
    Ignorance is Strength

  110. Amber's list of things "real people don't need": by Winter+Lightning · · Score: 1

    end-to-end encryption
    curtains
    drapes
    shutters
    blinds ...

  111. Technology is Bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spying is Good.

  112. Real people drink Cola with real Cocaine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Real people don't need to encrypt their data because real democracies would never dream of opening anybodies letters or tapping their phone, as they would have no real enemies or criminals.

  113. More Points for Red Team by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Imagine, you're on vacation and your wife needs access to the bank account. You quickly message the pw to her while logged onto hotel wifi. Fun times ensue for any third party on that network!

    She is correct assuming that we treat the internet as a hostile place not suitable for financial transactions or anything more private than cat pictures; so perhaps she's working for Walmart and wants to bring down internet retail.

    That or she is a complete idiot.

  114. Someone isn't thinking in use cases by rhyous · · Score: 1

    - So a wife that wants to send a strip tease video to her loving husband who is away should send it without encryption so that anybody can see and so that it shows up on some porn site someday? Or live strip tease during a face to face chat session, that shouldn't be encrypted?
    - So the tax lawyer shouldn't encrypt communication end to end when sharing sensitive tax data?
    - So the defense attorney shouldn't encrypt communication end to end when communicating with a client?
    - So a startup shouldn't encrypt communication about their proprietary software and should just let corporate espionage happen?
    - A broker/financial adviser shouldn't use end-to-end encryption when passing data to and from his clients?
    - What about HIPPA? Shouldn't medical records be transferred with end-to-end encryption?

    I am pretty sure that I could go on finding use cases for real people to use end-to-end encryption, but the above is plenty.

  115. Only the Saudis, Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So you don't think that the Iranians have done anything wrong then?

    I agree that the Saudis have a lot to answer for but so do the Iranians. Just be careful you don't "accidentally" side against Muslim Sunnis and by implication, for Muslim Shia. That's an internal split in the Muslim world that, quite frankly, the Muslim world isn't very mature about addressing.

    Our dispute is with bad character and bad behavior, not a religion or a religious sect.