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DAVE PETRAEUS’ PROBLEMS ARE YR PROBLEMS
Dec. 4th, 2012 09:24 amAs an American citizen, I am required by the Constitution to express my opinion on sex scandals. Because it’s been scientifically proven that the American People aren't all that interested in engaging in protracted, detailed discussions of current events unless there are sexual shenanigans involved.
Personally, I could not possibly care less about the sex part of the Rock Me Dave Petraeus scandal. It is what it is, and not that surprising. Sex scandals are a dime a dozen in Washington. The Potential Security Breach angle is of potentially more concern, but doesn’t seem to be leading anywhere substantial (yet), unless we find out that Paula Broadwell somehow compromised every CIA agent in Benghazi by hitting “reply all” when she shouldn’t have.
Far more interesting – and getting not nearly as much coverage and discussion as it ought to – is the Email Privacy angle, and how easy it is for the FBI to put a case together by tracking yr emails.
Even if yr the director of the CIA.
Imagine that.
Bruce Schneier has compiled some good links to stories illustrating the issue. Some choice quotes:
Recommended reading.
You’ve got mail,
This is dF
Personally, I could not possibly care less about the sex part of the Rock Me Dave Petraeus scandal. It is what it is, and not that surprising. Sex scandals are a dime a dozen in Washington. The Potential Security Breach angle is of potentially more concern, but doesn’t seem to be leading anywhere substantial (yet), unless we find out that Paula Broadwell somehow compromised every CIA agent in Benghazi by hitting “reply all” when she shouldn’t have.
Far more interesting – and getting not nearly as much coverage and discussion as it ought to – is the Email Privacy angle, and how easy it is for the FBI to put a case together by tracking yr emails.
Even if yr the director of the CIA.
Imagine that.
Bruce Schneier has compiled some good links to stories illustrating the issue. Some choice quotes:
Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, said the chain of unexpected disclosures was not unusual in computer-centric cases.
"It's a particular problem with cyberinvestigations they rapidly become open-ended because there’s such a huge quantity of information available and it’s so easily searchable," he said, adding, "If the C.I.A. director can get caught, it’s pretty much open season on everyone else."
[...]
Broadwell's debacle confirms something that some privacy experts have been warning about for years: Government surveillance of ordinary citizens is now cheaper and easier than ever before. Without needing to go before a judge, the government can gather vast amounts of information about us with minimal expenditure of manpower. We used to be able to count on a certain amount of privacy protection simply because invading our privacy was hard work. That is no longer the case. Our always-on, Internet-connected, cellphone-enabled lives are an open door to Big Brother.
"It's a particular problem with cyberinvestigations they rapidly become open-ended because there’s such a huge quantity of information available and it’s so easily searchable," he said, adding, "If the C.I.A. director can get caught, it’s pretty much open season on everyone else."
[...]
Broadwell's debacle confirms something that some privacy experts have been warning about for years: Government surveillance of ordinary citizens is now cheaper and easier than ever before. Without needing to go before a judge, the government can gather vast amounts of information about us with minimal expenditure of manpower. We used to be able to count on a certain amount of privacy protection simply because invading our privacy was hard work. That is no longer the case. Our always-on, Internet-connected, cellphone-enabled lives are an open door to Big Brother.
Recommended reading.
You’ve got mail,
This is dF
