Michael Hirsh for nationaljournal
the Surveillance State
Jeffrey Smith, a former general counsel at the CIA, says, “Generally as the IT community matured in this country, a number of things happened. They all opened Washington offices … and they came to an understanding, after some initial arrogance, that they needed to deal with the government.” The companies also came to understand that, in a very real way, they were now part of the nation’s infrastructure, and they would need plenty of help from the government in securing it.
The tech companies appear to understand that by keeping the whole process of cooperation superserial, they have jeopardized their reputations, and possibly violated the law. <---98% exact quote.
And this.
which has had unique access to NSA documents because of the personal relationship between its correspondent Glenn Greenwald and Snowden...
Wuhchewtalkin'bout?
...said Microsoft “has collaborated closely with U.S. intelligence services to allow users’ communications to be intercepted, including helping the National Security Agency to circumvent the company’s own encryption.” The documents show, among other things, that Microsoft effectively helped the NSA bypass the company’s own security features so the agency would be better able to intercept Web chats on the new Outlook.com portal.
Oh, Lordy.
4 comments:
The bottom line is that the force of government came in the form of, "You will comply or else." that's it. Bottom line. These companies know where their bread is buttered. Cooperation meant leniency or looking the other way in matters of acquisitions, licensing, permitting, perks, special treatment, whatever. Government knows this. They control the keys. Say what you want about big corporations, but it's government that pulls the fucking strings because they print the money, they have their militarized security forces at places like the IRS, FDA, SSA, USDA, DoA, you name it, and they can drop the hammer on you at any time. When the government comes to war on you or threatens it. You know you have zero chance to fight back, so these companies decided to sleep with the enemy instead and we all get fucked in the process.
They all opened Washington offices … and they came to an understanding, after some initial arrogance, that they needed to deal with the government.
The Microsoft anti-trust case had exactly the intended effect. Now they and others tithe to the politicians retirement fund that is lobbying.
Don't say I told you so.
If you ever read or heard how they got where they are in the software biz, none of this surprises you.
And, yes, listening to Gates go all sanctimonious about how he now wants to save the world after the things he's done does make me ill.
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