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posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday December 12 2017, @07:34AM   Printer-friendly
from the tilting-at-windmills dept.

The new FBI Director Christopher Wray has been repeating the broken rhetoric of the Crypto Wars:

In recent testimony before Congress, the director of the FBI has again highlighted what the government sees as the problem of easy-to-use, on-by-default, strong encryption.

In prepared remarks from last Thursday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that encryption presents a "significant challenge to conducting lawful court-ordered access," he said, again using the longstanding government moniker "Going Dark."

The statement was just one portion of his testimony about the agency's priorities for the coming year.

The FBI and its parent agency, the Department of Justice, have recently stepped up public rhetoric about the so-called dangers of "Going Dark." In recent months, both Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein have given numerous public statements about this issue.

Remember to use encryption irresponsibly, and stay salty, my FBI friends.

Previously: FBI Chief Calls for National Talk Over Encryption vs. Safety
Federal Court Rules That the FBI Does Not Have to Disclose Name of iPhone Hacking Vendor
PureVPN Logs Helped FBI Net Alleged Cyberstalker
FBI Failed to Access 7,000 Encrypted Mobile Devices
Great, Now There's "Responsible Encryption"
FBI Bemoans Phone Encryption After Texas Shooting, but Refuses Apple's Help
DOJ: Strong Encryption That We Don't Have Access to is "Unreasonable"


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:29PM (11 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:29PM (#608772)

    Banks. Credit Card Companies. Payment Processors.

    These (and other) parties will demand strong encryption.

    Those institutions and various others will be granted a license, with the appropriate backdoors of course.

    There is insufficient public resistance. In fact, most people are for the restrictions. Look how easy it is to pass things like the "patriot" act. If liberalism were alive, all these fascist politicians wouldn't be winning the election. Majority rule has hit a brick wall.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:00PM (9 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:00PM (#608823)

    Incorrect, it isn't a problem with Democracy, it is the age old problem of corruption. No matter what system you have it can be corrupted, the current problem is that the system has become so corrupt that individual action hardly matters. Majority rule would work very nicely if citizens actually had some method of getting good leadership that isn't totally trounced by our craptastic two party system.

    I for one would like to ban all types of political advertising. Have a government hosted website where citizens can register their intent to run for office, and allow a single campaign website. All info in one convenient place, fair and balanced. No campaign contributions, no glory. Just service to your country with a good sized paycheck for taking on a difficult job. Lots of things we can do to make democracy work again.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @07:10PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @07:10PM (#608862)

      The corruption is in the voters who reelect corrupt politicians because they, too, want a piece of the action (bring home the bacon). The voters can choose not to do that if they want. Don't try to externalize personal problems. Besides you won't get any of those so-called "reforms" anyway until the corruption is voted out to begin with, and then you will have solved the problem, right?

    • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Tuesday December 12 2017, @07:30PM (7 children)

      by NotSanguine (285) <NotSanguineNO@SPAMSoylentNews.Org> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @07:30PM (#608876) Homepage Journal

      I for one would like to ban all types of political advertising. Have a government hosted website where citizens can register their intent to run for office, and allow a single campaign website. All info in one convenient place, fair and balanced. No campaign contributions, no glory. Just service to your country with a good sized paycheck for taking on a difficult job. Lots of things we can do to make democracy work again.

      What? Are you some kind of Communist? We all know that one of the most important ideals of the US Constitution [wikipedia.org] is "One dollar, one vote." [wikipedia.org]

      Money is speech, as it should be, according to the Golden Rule [economicsociology.org].

      --
      No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
      • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Wednesday December 13 2017, @06:48AM (6 children)

        by fustakrakich (6150) on Wednesday December 13 2017, @06:48AM (#609116) Journal

        You should stop with that nonsense. You're not going to change legislation without changing the legislator. You don't have to reelect them, you know. It's not difficult to turn your back on their expensive propaganda, and turn all that money of theirs into confetti. It's not the money's fault if you are dazzled by it. It's just another bathroom or munchie break, and there's lots of channels to flip through. Sorry, but you're just going to have to seek out the independent yourself. Sure you can pay someone to do it for you, but you are already witnessing the result of doing it that way. Democracy is high maintenance.

        --
        La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
        • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Wednesday December 13 2017, @08:08AM (5 children)

          by NotSanguine (285) <NotSanguineNO@SPAMSoylentNews.Org> on Wednesday December 13 2017, @08:08AM (#609138) Homepage Journal

          You should stop with that nonsense. You're not going to change legislation without changing the legislator. You don't have to reelect them, you know. It's not difficult to turn your back on their expensive propaganda, and turn all that money of theirs into confetti. It's not the money's fault if you are dazzled by it. It's just another bathroom or munchie break, and there's lots of channels to flip through. Sorry, but you're just going to have to seek out the independent yourself. Sure you can pay someone to do it for you, but you are already witnessing the result of doing it that way. Democracy is high maintenance.

          So what's your point? That money doesn't matter in our current system?

          I'm not dazzled by it, I'm sickened by it. Mostly because it (in just about every single case) wins elections. Because the voters are being sold a *brand* not a platform. Marketers and advertisers have been honing these techniques for decades. And guess what? They work.

          I try to take a measured view of what's going on and attempt to be reasonably well-informed. You say that's really easy to do? Then why is it that so many voters buy it all, hook, line and sinker?

          The problem is that most people actually buy the bullshit these guys are selling.

          Until the voters replace top-of-mind awareness and name recognition for a focus on the issues and problems facing them, they will continue to vote for the folks with the most money, the best marketers and the best ground game.

          That requires knowledgeable and well informed voters. Many (if not most) politicians and their flacks have succeeded in convincing a fairly large segment of the voters that they should ignore the issues and the facts reported and only listen to them or the propaganda and outright lies they promote as "the truth."

          Have you looked at Twitter? I try not to as it's a cesspool of bullshit, lies and half-truths that get bandied about incessantly. And people eat that shit up.

          And don't even get me started on Facebook. It's *designed* to sell you shit and Zuckerberg, et al. use every marketing too they can to make, whatever misinformation or biased crap someone *pays* to get you to believe, seem like it's coming from trusted sources.

          I don't use either of those cesspools.

          As a result, we don't have a well informed electorate. We have a well propagandized electorate. As long as that persists, democracy will suffer.

          And the incredibly huge amounts of money that goes toward advancing the agendas of those with large amounts of resources (on all sides) is poured into every level of our political system, from political and propaganda advertising, to groups like ALEC writing regressive and anti-competitive sample bills for state legislatures, to the PAC money for directly supporting candidates, to the direct contributions to candidates at the local, state and Federal levels.

          It's all awash in money. And that crowds out folks whose agenda is to help their neighbors and themselves create a society of which they can be proud.

          So yes, money is an issue. Is it the only issue? No. But the money exacerbates the other problems considerably.

          Sure. We should absolutely get the folks who aren't representing the *voters* in their districts/states out of office and replace them with folks who aren't beholden to the monied interests. That's not news. But the folks who are empowered to make such changes to our elections and political system are the same people who benefit most (and use it to retain their power) from the current system.

          You claim that everyone should just suddenly say "Oh, I see it all so clearly now! I'm going to reject the propaganda and bullshit that's bein spewed at me online and from every other medium and get informed!" That's a wonderful idea.

          I'd love to know how you think it can be done. If you have ways to make that happen, please share them. I'd enthusiastically work toward implementing them. Do tell!

          --
          No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
          • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Wednesday December 13 2017, @09:02AM (4 children)

            by fustakrakich (6150) on Wednesday December 13 2017, @09:02AM (#609148) Journal

            We're all aware of the psychological bullshit. You're only helpless (and/or tribal) as you want to be. Official congressional voting records are trivial to look up. Public financial records will tell you who your candidate/congressman serves. You don't need to hear the hysterical reporter read it to you. And Twitter and Facebook?! You're not serious! Stop making excuses. You are responsible for your vote. Don't blame others for the choices you make.

            Your post was very long winded, yet offered nothing, not even the slightest hint of a remedy, merely redundant contradiction we've all heard before, and it's bunk. Do you advocate surrender, or what? Unless you* make the the changes, they simply aren't going to happen. Life is simple that way.

            *collective

            --
            La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
            • (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Wednesday December 13 2017, @09:26AM (1 child)

              by NotSanguine (285) <NotSanguineNO@SPAMSoylentNews.Org> on Wednesday December 13 2017, @09:26AM (#609156) Homepage Journal

              Unless you* make the the changes, they simply aren't going to happen. Life is simple that way.

              Really? what exactly should I do, oh wise one? I don't see you making any relevant or worthwhile suggestions yourself.

              I have voted in every election (primary and general) for candidates that I've chosen through my own research and information gathered from multiple sources (including voting records and stated positions) and, you know, actual facts, for more than thirty years.

              I don't buy into the builshit. In fact, I called it out by name. which is more than I can say for you. You can't even be bothered to make an coherent argument as to how to help our fellow Americans to educate themselves and make better choices. That I do so is good. You haven't even claimed to do so, although you implied as much. And if we were the only voters, that would be great. How do you propose convincing the other ~235 million eligible voters to do so as well?

              I actually did make some suggestions, but you apparently chose to ignore them.

              Your posts added nothing of value except to complain about me. That's not a reasonable discussion or argument. And when asked what *you* would do about the issues, you just make a fact-free and completely contradictory attack:

              Your post was very long winded, yet offered nothing, not even the slightest hint of a remedy, merely redundant contradiction we've all heard before, and it's bunk. Do you advocate surrender, or what? Unless you* make the the changes, they simply aren't going to happen. Life is simple that way.

              It's clear you don't wish to have a measured, reasoned discussion. Or even a discussion. You, apparently seem to feel the need to be negative with others. Is that due to a trauma in your past? If so, I'm sorry for you.

              I'd be happy to have a discussion with you, if and when you actually wish to engage in a constructive way. Until then, please be good to yourself [pelicanparts.com] and try to keep your blood pressure in check.

              --
              No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
              • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday December 15 2017, @04:14AM

                by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday December 15 2017, @04:14AM (#610090) Journal

                I don't see you making any relevant or worthwhile suggestions yourself.

                I told you already, it's on the voters' back to look out for themselves. They are the root of the power. Only they can reduce the value of the campaign dollar to exactly zero. Propaganda works by choice. The voters choose to believe against all evidence, don't blame the liars for their success.

                Whatever you do personally, I never claimed to know, and I don't care. I responded to your post. And you don't explain how you're going to implement your agenda and who is going to do it. So the internet is full of bullshit, so what? What's yer plan, Stan? Are we going to play the Handicapper General?

                --
                La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
            • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday December 13 2017, @02:35PM (1 child)

              by urza9814 (3954) on Wednesday December 13 2017, @02:35PM (#609216) Journal

              We're all aware of the psychological bullshit. You're only helpless (and/or tribal) as you want to be. Official congressional voting records are trivial to look up. Public financial records will tell you who your candidate/congressman serves. You don't need to hear the hysterical reporter read it to you. And Twitter and Facebook?! You're not serious! Stop making excuses. You are responsible for your vote. Don't blame others for the choices you make.

              Personally, I voted for Jill Stein for president. And how much has that helped us?

              You don't fix the system by changing one vote out of millions. The problem isn't how do YOU choose a better candidate; the problem is how do you get OTHERS to do the same? I've literally known people who make their vote based purely on physical appearance. How do we convince THOSE voters to start doing some actual research?

              The ads exist because they work. The money gets spent because it works. Just telling one person to try to ignore it isn't going to change a single goddamn thing.

              • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday December 15 2017, @04:43AM

                by fustakrakich (6150) on Friday December 15 2017, @04:43AM (#610100) Journal

                Just telling one person to try to ignore it isn't going to change a single goddamn thing.

                I responded to a post. More than one person can read it. And I really hope you're not being as absurd about that as it sounds.

                the problem is how do you get OTHERS to do the same?

                No, the "problem" is to make them know they are responsible for their choices. Yes, appealing propaganda works, but it's time for humans to transcend the psycho bullshit and think rationally. Otherwise we stagnate at the talking chimp level of our evolution. The *devil didn't make them do it*. There is no gun to anybody's head. The choice to believe is personal. That's what nobody will accept, because it applies to them also. This whole blame game is just so tiresome. I don't expect calling people out on it to go over very well. But that's just too damn bad.

                Aside from that, the other more immediate problem is how to protect ourselves from letting the majority drive us off the cliff.

                --
                La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:11PM

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:11PM (#608894) Journal

    If getting caught using disallowed strong encryption is better than getting nailed for the information you are protecting (such as evidence of tax evasion, murder, sexcapades, etc.) then strong encryption will live on.

    --
    [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]