So true, Michael, but I think there is a sense that the NSA has gone too far…

Sadly, taking into account what Carlton has said, I think the NSA will get slapped on the wrist, but the ultimate result is that they will burrow down deep (waaay under the radar) and continue what they have been doing.

Imo, very little is likely to change…

In addition, listening to NSA Director’s submission to Congress, one is left with no doubt that the US admin see these as necessary to their national security. They will therefore continue, covertly, in one form or the other, regardless of what steps are taken to strengthen privacy protection.

Excellent, Carlton. Thanks for this. I really cannot refute any of the points you made :-).

The Diffe quote really struck a chord, and imo, can be broadened from a “secret” per se, to anything we might wish to keep private.

1. The argument is about CAPABILITY vs CAPACITY
2. The NSA – and fellow travelers – ALWAYS had the Capability to access ALL traffic and not since this year. In fact this has been the case in your lifetime 🙂
3. Digital storage advances and software defined networks and the very nature of message addressing and routing have granted the NSA – and fellow travelers – increase to both CAPACITY & CAPABILITY. Technology advance will ALWAYS be in their favour.
4. Data protection, encryption all of these initiatives should be viewed as bumps in the road; they simply slow down the action
5. The law and regulatory frameworks actually allows more access than we believe. And in the US instance, the secret FISA Court grants it.

Here’s the closeout. I will quote Diffie – the guy who developed the Diffie-Hellman algorithm on which the public key (security) infrastructure is based. “When you have a secret, you have a vulnerability”.

Period. Just a matter of determining the risk.

-Carlton