"The super-rich are making their homes ‘invisible’"

"Privacy is perhaps the greatest luxury anyone can buy, hence the trend for properties hidden from prying eyes and online searches."

What the area’s occupants — who reportedly include Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez — value above all is privacy. That includes banning Google’s photography vehicles from entering (and declining to talk to the FT; a spokeswoman for the area’s management company said it had a policy of not giving interviews to the press).

Academics have long used the names “hidden communities” or “invisible communities” to denote areas with high concentrations of deprivation and social marginalisation. Yet some of the world’s most privileged people are choosing to hide from the public eye to protect their homes from burglars and other forms of unwelcome attention.

In an evermore connected world, privacy is perhaps the greatest luxury anyone can buy.

“There was a time when people really flaunted their wealth; now they don’t,” says David Forbes, head of private office at estate agent Savills who advises wealthy buyers. “People’s priorities over the years have shifted. Now right at the top of the list it’s security.” (more)

"In 1916, the average person owned a horse and was "rich" if they owned a car. In 2016, it's the other way around." via r/ #Showerthoughts

"Georgia court says ‘upskirting’ videos not against the law"

AP:  A man admitted he took a video on his phone up a woman’s skirt, but a Georgia court ruled he did not break the law.

The Georgia Court of Appeals tossed outthis month the conviction of former grocery store employee Brandon Lee Gary, who surreptitiously recorded the video up the woman’s skirt while she shopped at a grocery store.

The majority opinion said Gary’s behavior, known as “upskirting,” was reprehensible but doesn’t violate Georgia’s invasion of privacy law because it happened in a place that’s open to the public. The law prohibits recording a person without consent “in any private place and out of public view.”

"Apple's New Lawyer Calls iPhone-Unlock Order a ‘Pandora's Box’"

Bloomberg Business: Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, a partner with the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, said on ABC’s “This Week” program that the order would open a “Pandora’s box” of privacy issues.

“This is not just one magistrate in San Bernardino,” said Olson, 75, whose wife died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. “There are hundreds of magistrates, there are hundreds of other courts.” 

In rejecting the magistrate’s decree, Apple has ignited a long-simmering battle between the tech industry and the government pitting concerns over civil liberties against the need for surveillance to fight terrorism. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump waded into the battle last week by urging people to boycott Apple products until it complied.

“This case is entirely overstated,” John Miller, the New York Police Department’s deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said on “This Week” after Olson’s appearance. “The giant parade of terribles,” as he described Apple’s worries over government breaches of civil liberties, “is absurd.”

On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple to lend “reasonable technical assistance” to the FBI in recovering information from the phone used by Syed Rizwan Farook, who teamed up with his wife in December to kill 14 people in San Bernardino, California.

Does Apple trust China above the United States?

France 24: Apple was hailed as a champion of digital privacy this week after refusing to help the FBI hack into an iPhone belonging to a suspect in the San Bernardino shooting. But the firm hasn’t always been so scrupulous about user data, especially in China.

Apple’s new role as a champion of digital privacy must be making the Chinese government smile. According to an article by the US news website Quartz, Cook’s intransigence apparently depends on geography.

Citing reports by Chinese daily Beijing News and the state-run People's Daily, the article claimed that Cook agreed in January 2015 to allow authorities in China to carry out “security checks” on all iPhones sold in the country to make sure the US had not installed any spyware. But, Apple has never confirmed or responded to the allegations.

The article reported that analysts believe Apple likely handed over its operating system source code as part of the agreement. If true, this would mean that the Chinese government knows how Apple’s software works, including its security system.

"Immigration officials prohibited from looking at visa applicants' social media"

The Hill: Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson decided against ending a secret U.S. policy that prohibits immigration officials from reviewing social media posts of foreigners applying for U.S. visas, according to a report by ABC News.

Johnson decided to keep the prohibition in place in early 2014 because he feared a civil liberties backlash and “bad public relations,” according to ABC.

“During that time period immigration officials were not allowed to use or review social media as part of the screening process,” John Cohen, a former acting undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security for intelligence and analysis, told ABC News.

The policy's revelation comes after U.S. officials learned that Tashfeen Malik, one of the San Bernardino shooters, posted a message on Facebook declaring allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; 14 people were killed.

"Digital surveillance 'worse than Orwell', says new UN privacy chief"

“Some people were complaining because they couldn’t find me on Facebook. They couldn’t find me on Twitter. But since I believe in privacy, I’ve never felt the need for it,” Cannataci, a professor of technology law at University of Groningen in the Netherlands and head of the department of Information Policy & Governance at the University of Malta, said.

Appointed after concern about surveillance and privacy following the Edward Snowden revelations, Cannataci agreed that his notion of a new universal law on surveillance could embarrass those who may not sign up to it. “Some people may not want to buy into it,” he acknowledged. “But you know, if one takes the attitude that some countries will not play ball, then, for example, the chemical weapons agreement would never have come about.” (read the whole thing)

This could be a good thing.

"Carolyn Hax: My mom thinks I'm rude for not asking people more questions"

Dear Carolyn:

My mom finds it rude and uncaring that I don't make personal inquiries of the details of people's lives when I chat with them.

For instance, after telling her I saw an old friend, she'll ask questions about their life, job, family members, etc., and finds it self-absorbed of me that I don't ask after these things myself. I find that type of conversation nosy, and let people volunteer such information if they want to. I will ask, "How are you?" like anyone else, but I don't say, "How's your parent/child/spouse/pet/job/health issues?" I generally talk to people about "stuff," and personal anecdotes may or may not be a part of any conversation.

Who is right here? Should I be more solicitous of people, or just stick to my ways?

But It's a Really Cool App!

Yes, it is.  Super cool, in fact.  At least that's what sheeple thought when the new Facebook Messenger app became available for their phones, and iPads, and other mobile devices.  So cool, in fact, that more that one million people downloaded it tout de suite as soon as it was announced.

Without reading the Terms of Service, as usual.  Heavens, why do that?  That thing is all fine print and legalese and boring and you can't change it so just click on 'accept' and poof! here comes the new app!

El grande mistake, amigos. The Facebook Messenger app invades your privacy like no app before it has ever done.  Here's part of what the TOS Agreement does:

• Allows the app to change the state of network connectivity


• Allows the app to call phone numbers without your intervention. This may result in unexpected charges or calls. Malicious apps may cost you money by making calls without your confirmation.


• Allows the app to send SMS messages. This may result in unexpected charges. Malicious apps may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.


• Allows the app to record audio with microphone. This permission allows the app to record audio at any time without your confirmation.


• Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.


• Allows the app to read you phone's call log, including data about incoming and outgoing calls. This permission allows apps to save your call log data, and malicious apps may share call log data without your knowledge.


• Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone, including the frequency with which you've called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific individuals.


• Allows the app to read personal profile information stored on your device, such as your name and contact information. This means the app can identify you and may send your profile information to others.


• Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.


• Allows the app to get a list of accounts known by the phone. This may include any accounts created by applications you have installed.

By agreeing to the TOS for the Facebook Messenger app  on a mobile device, the user is essentially agreeing to give up things to Facebook that the police would need to get a warrant to obtain, under most circumstances.

Why get a warrant now, when it's easier for law enforcement to go right to Facebook for your personal information, including video and audio of you doing and saying whatever in your own home?

Privacy.  It was nice while we had it.    Full article here.  It's always good to read the TOS Agreements before installing any software on devices you own.

Vodafone: Governments Use Secret Cables to Tap Phones

"Government agencies are able to listen to phone conversations live and even track the location of citizens without warrants using secret cables connected directly to network equipment, admits Vodafone today."

The company said that secret wires have been connected to its network and those belonging to competitors, giving government agencies the ability to tap in to phone and broadband traffic. In many countries this is mandatory for all telecoms companies, it said.

The company Vodafone is releasing a "Law Enforcement Disclosure Report" which the company claims will "describe exactly how the governments it deals with are eavesdropping on citizens."

I don't know... I've pretty much accepted that all my communications can be listened to, sold, compromised, criticized ... Well, maybe not criticized.

My point is... what is the point?.. my point is I have zero expectation of privacy. Privacy, as we've known it, and, other than our thoughts, is on it's way to becoming something like a wrestling match prop. Privacy appeals and supposedly means something, but, in real terms it is as significant as a selfie.

"Rand Paul gets standing ovation at Berkeley: ‘Your right to privacy is under assault’"

"Delivering a rare speech for a Republican at this bastion of liberalism, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Wednesday was given multiple standing ovations by the left-wing audience after railing against government surveillance and warning the students: “Your right to privacy is under assault.”

“I am here to tell you that if you own a cell phone, you’re under surveillance,” he told the crowd.

Paul’s address at the Berkeley Forum on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley focused on the National Security Agency’s collection of telephone metadata and the debate over privacy.

During his remarks, the potential 2016 Republican candidate discussed California Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s claim that the CIA had spied on her congressional staff, and announced that he plans to call for a special committee on Capitol Hill to investigate the domestic spying by government agencies .

“No one should be allowed to invade your privacy,” Paul said. “That’s why I’m announcing today that when I return to Washington, I will push for a select committee styled after the Church Committee that investigated the abuses of power of the intelligence committee in the 70s. It should be bipartisan. It should be independent, and wide reaching. It should have full power to investigate and reform those who spy on us in the name of protecting us.”

Added Paul: “It should watch the watchers.”

Meanwhile, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been lying (apparently) about his knowledge of the NSA domestic spying programs.

"Can We Learn About Privacy From Porn Stars?"

“You cannot expect your legal name to remain a secret, and a stage name will not fool people who recognize you.”

"But this same lack of context is something any of us can experience. It’s what happens when any ill-advised tweet or embarrassing Facebook picture goes viral. Ten years ago, I would have judged people over the course of several conversations. Now I evaluate them based on a few snippets of their social media presence."

NY Times Sunday Review via Instapundit

"Edward Snowden to Speak at SXSW Interactive Via Videoconference"

"On Monday, March 10 at 11:00 am, join us for a conversation between Edward Snowden and Christopher Soghoian, the principal technologist of the American Civil Liberties Union. The conversation will be focused on the impact of the NSA's spying efforts on the technology community, and the ways in which technology can help to protect us from mass surveillance. Hear directly from Snowden about his beliefs on what the tech community can and must do to secure the private data of the billions of people who rely on the tools and services that we build."

This session will be moderated by Ben Wizner, who is director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy & Technology Project and Edward Snowden’s legal advisor. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions.

However, if you cannot be at SXSW Interactive on Monday, March 10 at 11:00 am CST, then you can watch a free livestream of the session courtesy of The Texas Tribune.

If you had the opportunity, what would ask Snowden?

I would ask Snowden for his thoughts on his obfuscating, neighbor invading, missile test lunching host, Vladimir Putin. But, maybe, I would not be allowed to ask that.

SXSW Interactive

“The whole purpose is student safety”

"Glendale Unified Hires Local Company To Monitor Students’ Social Media Posts."

The Glendale Unified School District has hired a Hermosa Beach company to monitor public social media posts made by its students to find out when teens are in trouble or causing it.

Superintendent Richard Sheehan said Geo Listening is analyzing the posts of 13,000 students at eight Glendale middle and high schools.

The goal is to give school administrators critical information as soon as possible.

 "Critical information as soon as possible."

passwords, Feds want 'em.

Declan McCullagh news.cnet

Feds tell web firms to turn over passwords.

Marks an escalation in Internet surveillance.

To log into accounts and peruse correspondence, even impersonate the user.

Plus encryption.

Said one Internet industry source who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

"We push back."

So there's hope!

Microsoft won't say.

Google declined to disclose

Yahoo would not say

Apple, Facebook AOL, Verizon, AT&T, Tie Warner Cable, and Comcast did not respond.

FBI declined to comment, politely, no doubt. 

Patriot Act used to demand database dumps.

The rest is codes, algorithms, costs, lengths of passwords, more costs, cracking codes, Sen Ron Wyden warns, "government authority limitless," law, legal issues, specific cases. 

The lies! The lies!

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.