When the Government Comes Knocking — We all trust our internet activity, whether it’s online conversations, thoughts, locations or photos, to companies like Google, AT&T and Facebook.
Usually, we don’t give much of a thought about what is out there. Recently we’ve seen a heightened awareness of the government’s demands for information and the privacy policies of the companies that hold your data. This week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) released its “When the Government Comes Knocking, Who Has Your Back?” report tracking service providers’ commitments to their users’ privacy and security.
The report documents and rates 18 major service providers on four separate criteria regarding privacy, including: A public commitment to inform users when their data is sought by the government; transparency about when and how often companies hand data to the government; fight for users’ privacy rights in the courts; and fight for users’ privacy in Congress.
Overall, the report shows improvement from last year, with sonic.net, Twitter and Google leading the field in championing privacy rights. Verizon, MySpace and Skype were at the bottom of the list. For the full report, go to eff.org/pages/who-has-your-back.
Senate Takes Up Privacy Legislation — In the wake of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) passed by the House, the U.S. Senate has started considering so-called “cyberprotection” proposals. The first one up is the Lieberman-Collins Cyber Security Act.
Here are some quick facts on the proposal: Companies can share with the government any data that constitutes a cybersecurity threat indicator. The definition of a threat indicator is ridiculously broad — data that contains “Any other attribute of a cybersecurity threat” — but it does contain on privacy provision. “Reasonable efforts” must be made to remove identifiable information for persons unrelated to the threat; any information provided to the government is exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests; the proposal does not contain any provision preventing the release of information to the NSA or other military organizations; and, like CISPA, the Senate proposal permits sharing of data with law enforcement if the data “appears to relate to a crime” either past, present or near future. Yes, that’s right — future crimes. We are opening the door to a society where police can scan your internet activity for the potential that you might commit a crime.
You will need to contact your senator to fight against this bill. The links are below.
Saxby Chambliss (GA): chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email.
Johnny Isakson (GA): isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm.
Jim DeMint (SC): demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactInformation
Lindsey Graham (SC): lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EmailSenatorGraham.
200 Days and Counting — This past week we moved within 200 days of the end of the Mayan calendar. Of course, this day (December 21, 2012) is generally recognized as the End of the World. If you have not started your preparations for the pending apocalypse, time is running out. There is probably not enough time at this point to construct and stock your own zombie-proof shelter (yes, I still believe that it will be zombies).
However, don’t fear. Developers are converting some of the most impenetrable and secure facilities on the planet into apocalypse-proof sanctuaries. At survivalcondo.com, you’ll find information on a converted Atlas F missile silo in north-central Kansas.
Originally constructed to withstand a nuclear explosion, this silo, built in the 1960s at a cost of $15 million in 1960 dollars, features concrete walls between 2.5 feet and 9 feet thick and includes over 45,000 square feet of hardened space. Full-floor residential layouts have approximately 1,820 square feet of living space and is provisioned with 30-man years of freeze-dried and survival food.
The facility includes redundant water supply; redundant power; redundant air filtration for nuclear, biological and chemical particulates; and military security systems. Of course, being more than the standard survivor shelter, each luxury living space includes stainless appliances, washer and dryer, and the facility includes an indoor pool and spa, library, first aid center, theater, bar/lounge area, and more. Pricing: $2 million for a full-floor layout.
Unfortunately, Survivor Condo is filling up fast. If you can’t swing $2 million in the short term, other options are available. Hundreds of missile silos were built around the United States. Some have already been turned into homes, and many more are available for sales on sites like missilebases.com. Best of luck!
Until next time, I’m off the grid @gregory_a_baker.You Might Also Like:
When the Government Comes Knocking…
When the Government Comes Knocking — We all trust our internet activity, whether it’s online conversations, thoughts, locations or photos, to companies like Google, AT&T and Facebook.
Usually, we don’t give much of a thought about what is out there. Recently we’ve seen a heightened awareness of the government’s demands for information and the privacy policies of the companies that hold your data. This week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) released its “When the Government Comes Knocking, Who Has Your Back?” report tracking service providers’ commitments to their users’ privacy and security.
The report documents and rates 18 major service providers on four separate criteria regarding privacy, including: A public commitment to inform users when their data is sought by the government; transparency about when and how often companies hand data to the government; fight for users’ privacy rights in the courts; and fight for users’ privacy in Congress.
Overall, the report shows improvement from last year, with sonic.net, Twitter and Google leading the field in championing privacy rights. Verizon, MySpace and Skype were at the bottom of the list. For the full report, go to eff.org/pages/who-has-your-back.
Senate Takes Up Privacy Legislation — In the wake of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) passed by the House, the U.S. Senate has started considering so-called “cyberprotection” proposals. The first one up is the Lieberman-Collins Cyber Security Act.
Here are some quick facts on the proposal: Companies can share with the government any data that constitutes a cybersecurity threat indicator. The definition of a threat indicator is ridiculously broad — data that contains “Any other attribute of a cybersecurity threat” — but it does contain on privacy provision. “Reasonable efforts” must be made to remove identifiable information for persons unrelated to the threat; any information provided to the government is exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests; the proposal does not contain any provision preventing the release of information to the NSA or other military organizations; and, like CISPA, the Senate proposal permits sharing of data with law enforcement if the data “appears to relate to a crime” either past, present or near future. Yes, that’s right — future crimes. We are opening the door to a society where police can scan your internet activity for the potential that you might commit a crime.
You will need to contact your senator to fight against this bill. The links are below.
Saxby Chambliss (GA): chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email.
Johnny Isakson (GA): isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm.
Jim DeMint (SC): demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactInformation
Lindsey Graham (SC): lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EmailSenatorGraham.
200 Days and Counting — This past week we moved within 200 days of the end of the Mayan calendar. Of course, this day (December 21, 2012) is generally recognized as the End of the World. If you have not started your preparations for the pending apocalypse, time is running out. There is probably not enough time at this point to construct and stock your own zombie-proof shelter (yes, I still believe that it will be zombies).
However, don’t fear. Developers are converting some of the most impenetrable and secure facilities on the planet into apocalypse-proof sanctuaries. At survivalcondo.com, you’ll find information on a converted Atlas F missile silo in north-central Kansas.
Originally constructed to withstand a nuclear explosion, this silo, built in the 1960s at a cost of $15 million in 1960 dollars, features concrete walls between 2.5 feet and 9 feet thick and includes over 45,000 square feet of hardened space. Full-floor residential layouts have approximately 1,820 square feet of living space and is provisioned with 30-man years of freeze-dried and survival food.
The facility includes redundant water supply; redundant power; redundant air filtration for nuclear, biological and chemical particulates; and military security systems. Of course, being more than the standard survivor shelter, each luxury living space includes stainless appliances, washer and dryer, and the facility includes an indoor pool and spa, library, first aid center, theater, bar/lounge area, and more. Pricing: $2 million for a full-floor layout.
Unfortunately, Survivor Condo is filling up fast. If you can’t swing $2 million in the short term, other options are available. Hundreds of missile silos were built around the United States. Some have already been turned into homes, and many more are available for sales on sites like missilebases.com. Best of luck!
Until next time, I’m off the grid @gregory_a_baker.You Might Also Like:
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