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In a "How to Save the Internet" series, Wired runs the opinion of Bruce Schneier which makes a compelling case for splitting NSA in three.
By treating the Internet as a giant surveillance platform, the NSA has betrayed the Internet and the world. It has subverted the products, protocols, and standards that we use to protect ourselves. It has left us all vulnerable—to foreign governments, to cybercriminals, to hackers. And it has transformed the Internet into a medium that no one can trust.
Spying on foreign governments properly belongs within the Department of Defense under US Cyber Command. These days, espionage requires offensive actions in cyberspace—for example, breaking into networks and installing malware. [...] Attacking a foreign computer network is potentially an act of war, and we should be very careful in choosing to do so.
But the NSA's extensive domestic and foreign surveillance of individuals is an activity that is properly placed inside the Justice Department. There it can be subject to standard domestic law: the Constitution, the warrant process, conventional courts, and much less secrecy.
Finally, the NSA's defensive mission—protecting U.S. communications from eavesdropping and other attacks—should be transferred to a new organization. [...] This new agency would not have to be secret at all, because its ultimate goal ought to be a more secure Internet for everyone.
While all seems conceptually sound, I still have an uneasy feeling about placing the responsibility of fixing the internet in what used to be a part of NSA. What about you?
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday August 20 2014, @07:46PM
There's an inherent dilemma. At one end the organization shall spy at the other end it shall help others to protect their communications. If that spying is against individuals that may cause great harm to many people then you will really have a bad choice to make.
And then, trust is earned. It won't get back that easily by re-organization and announcements.
(Score: 2) by arslan on Wednesday August 20 2014, @10:47PM
Umm no it doesn't have to be a polar opposite. the NSA can spy on the rest of the world, just not on its citizens. The new agency he's proposing just have to secure the privacy of the U.S. citizens, almost like a control against the NSA to keep them honest as its been proven they can't be trusted.
The rest of the world of course is still stuffed
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday August 20 2014, @11:38PM
But the techniques to protect Americans will leak to the rest of the world.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by SlimmPickens on Thursday August 21 2014, @02:32AM
I think there's something wrong with that, it still contains the idea that some people are second class and don't deserve their human rights. There should just be three types of people, citizens, suspects and criminals.
(Score: 2) by arslan on Thursday August 21 2014, @03:16AM
No arguments from me there. I was just trying to summarize Bruce's point, not mine.