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Staying away from the tube...
Nov. 7th, 2000 10:00 pmJust hit me with the result tomorrow morning, okay? I imagine watching TV tonight would be much like observing grass growing in Kansas, except that the talking heads aren't that entertaining. So, I've been surfing on slashdot, and keeping my eye on the #livejournal IRC channel.
If you haven't heard about the so-called "Convention on Cybercrime," it's a real pip. When it is offered to the American people, I'm sure it will be represented as the only thing that stands between our loved homes and anarchy and chaos (it turns out that, as long as you say a measure is designed to battle the criminal element - mentioning child pornographers and terrorists in this regard is a favorite tactic - anything goes, and woe to anyone who would oppose such lofty goals!).
Including those who think privacy is still worth something.
According to some recent info I've read, the Convention is something that's been cooking over in Europe for a while - with some help, apparently, from U.S. law enforcement. Among other provisions, the Convention would give the cops the power to require individuals to reveal computer passwords or encryption keys on demand. Actually, that may represent an improvement over the Clinton administration's initiative to obtain and store encryption keys before any crime is suspected. I say may because I haven't studied the language of the Convention in detail...and it's only a draft right now, anyway.
The Convention would require ISPs to allow real-time surveillance of e-mail (although that's probably already a fait accompli in the so-called "Carnivore" system). ISPs would also have to store at least a month's worth of customer e-mails, chatroom transcripts, and web visit information.
Focusing on the capacity for abuse, the Convention would pretty much squelch "anonymous" remailers by requiring such servers to collect user information.
Of particular interest to folks trying to learn about network security would be the provision that makes use (or maybe even ownership) of programs such as port scanners illegal. I suppose you'll have to register with the State to become a security consultant once the Convention goes into effect.
The right to privacy has been under steady attack for decades, and this attack has become more intense over the past 8 years. In my opinion, this Convention - which will be considered for adoption in the U.S. - makes those efforts seem pretty weak by comparison.
Cheers...
If you haven't heard about the so-called "Convention on Cybercrime," it's a real pip. When it is offered to the American people, I'm sure it will be represented as the only thing that stands between our loved homes and anarchy and chaos (it turns out that, as long as you say a measure is designed to battle the criminal element - mentioning child pornographers and terrorists in this regard is a favorite tactic - anything goes, and woe to anyone who would oppose such lofty goals!).
Including those who think privacy is still worth something.
According to some recent info I've read, the Convention is something that's been cooking over in Europe for a while - with some help, apparently, from U.S. law enforcement. Among other provisions, the Convention would give the cops the power to require individuals to reveal computer passwords or encryption keys on demand. Actually, that may represent an improvement over the Clinton administration's initiative to obtain and store encryption keys before any crime is suspected. I say may because I haven't studied the language of the Convention in detail...and it's only a draft right now, anyway.
The Convention would require ISPs to allow real-time surveillance of e-mail (although that's probably already a fait accompli in the so-called "Carnivore" system). ISPs would also have to store at least a month's worth of customer e-mails, chatroom transcripts, and web visit information.
Focusing on the capacity for abuse, the Convention would pretty much squelch "anonymous" remailers by requiring such servers to collect user information.
Of particular interest to folks trying to learn about network security would be the provision that makes use (or maybe even ownership) of programs such as port scanners illegal. I suppose you'll have to register with the State to become a security consultant once the Convention goes into effect.
The right to privacy has been under steady attack for decades, and this attack has become more intense over the past 8 years. In my opinion, this Convention - which will be considered for adoption in the U.S. - makes those efforts seem pretty weak by comparison.
Cheers...
