EU: Don’t use Facebook if you want to keep the NSA away from your data

I often wonder whether any governments have a computer that tries to link peoples online accounts etc via the email address, other details or maybe even the ability to identify peoples posting styles.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if governments like the UK/USA were trying to build up online profiles of citizens

A few years ago everyone probably would have thought it was just a crazy conspiracy theory but the lengths they have gone to in order to spy on people surely makes it a realistic possibility or at least the type of thing they would want
 
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arknor said:
I often wonder whether any governments have a computer that tries to link peoples online accounts etc via the email address, other details or maybe even the ability to identify peoples posting styles.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if governments like the UK/USA were trying to build up online profiles of citizens
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They don't need to when they control or tap into backbones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A
 
Skidder said:
The kind of information a lot of people put on facebook can just as easily not be put on facebook if they are paranoid and deluded regarding how interesting that information is.
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Yeah see that's the problem, you think it's about the content you post willingly on Facebook... It's not.

It's about the thousands of scripts that run in the background out of site that track your every single move and all the information they're able to collect from those scripts. It has nothing to do with your "status update" about being drunk.

Like I said, you're being narrow-minded. Facebook is a directory enquiries of 1.5 billion people for the powers at be. They can use it to pull vast amounts of private data at the touch of a button that helps them piece together whatever profiles they please.

Same with all the major email providers, same with your smartphone and same with your credit cards. Everything makes up a piece of the puzzle.

And 10 years ago if I'd said any of that people like you would have shouted conspiracy nut. Now you just say "it's fine, I've got nothing to hide". Not sure which is worse, probably the latter
 
dbmzk1 said:
Really don't care what the NSA know about me. Makes absolutely zero difference to my life. Don't understand why people are so bothered by it.
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You can say that now because we live in a relatively free society with a relatively peaceful government.

However if things change (which they probably will at some point), then this is the foundation being built right now to give future governments and very powerful and dangerous tool at their disposal.

Personal privacy is extremely important. You're a complete fool to think otherwise
 
Skidder said:
Don't put stuff you don't want people to know on the internet.
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I think that needs to be revised now the internet is so pervasive (which is why digital privacy and rights are so important). It needs to be revised to "Don't put stuff you don't want people to know in digital format". That covers all bases, from texts, calls and emails to files on your computer, all are within easy reach of security services and police, whether that be through tapping your ISP/phone company or injecting malware into websites, which is becoming increasingly common.
 
Do people think the NSA is actually interested in99% of the stuff that gets posted online? Or that they actually have the man power to build profiles of every Tom, Dick and Harry?

People need to chill a little.

Stupid people are the ones that check in at home and go 'GETTING READY FOR HOLIDAY'
Then check in at Gatwick and go 'SEE YOU IN 2 WEEKS!!!!!'...

2 weeks later they come home to a burgled home and are like 'wtf how did this happen?!!??'
 
Skidder said:
Uh, OK.

I run my business across google apps and use plenty of online services. I am not some Luddite. But things I don't want people to know are carefully protected (within reason).

The kind of information a lot of people put on facebook can just as easily not be put on facebook if they are paranoid and deluded regarding how interesting that information is.
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I think you're missing the point. Google are just as likely to hand over data as facebook, whether they want to or not. Both are large US multinationals that have to abide by what the NSA say (as opposed to the law) and will quite possibly face gag orders in the process.
 
Amp34 said:
I think you're missing the point. Google are just as likely to hand over data as facebook, whether they want to or not. Both are large US multinationals that have to abide by what the NSA say (as opposed to the law) and will quite possibly face gag orders in the process.
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How many times was it just reported that Google met with White House staff since Obama took office? 230?

Google are probably worse than Facebook if anything
 
balky12 said:
Do people think the NSA is actually interested in99% of the stuff that gets posted online? Or that they actually have the man power to build profiles of every Tom, Dick and Harry?

People need to chill a little.

Stupid people are the ones that check in at home and go 'GETTING READY FOR HOLIDAY'
Then check in at Gatwick and go 'SEE YOU IN 2 WEEKS!!!!!'...

2 weeks later they come home to a burgled home and are like 'wtf how did this happen?!!??'
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It's got nothing to do with them being interested, it's that they can, with impunity, even when they break the law (which thy have, both in the US and the UK).
 
Moses said:
Say none of these mechanisms for collecting data existed because we were worried about evil future governments... then an evil future government came along. Wouldn't they just set up all the mechanisms needed?
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These mechanisms take a ton of resources and (more importantly) a lot of time to build.

So no, it wouldn't just be like an evil government comes into power and a month later they have a vast database on every citizen to use as they please. It's takes decades to build up
 
Amp34 said:
It's got nothing to do with them being interested, it's that they can, with impunity, even when they break the law (which thy have, both in the US and the UK).
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I suppose I am pretty chilled out about the whole thing.

I am of a view that if you have become a person of interest to the NSA it's probably for a good reason. Something like national security.
 
scorza said:
Really worried now. I just updated my facebook status last night to "having a dump" - now the NSA will have that stored in a database somewhere...
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As long as you flushed afterwards they will have no evidence it was actually your poo in the toilet.
I always fold the loo paper into triangles to confuse forensics.
 
balky12 said:
Do people think the NSA is actually interested in99% of the stuff that gets posted online? Or that they actually have the man power to build profiles of every Tom, Dick and Harry?
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Do people still think profile creation isn't 100% automated?

And again, this isn't about your stupid status updates. It's about the vast amount of underlying information you unwillingly share every time you login to your Facebook account.

All of it is collected and stored and monitored and filtered. All 100% automated.

Then through a search engine interface they can type in any name they please and instantly pull up emails, phone calls, purchases, locations. A whole array of personal (and sensitive) information to do so as they please.

Here you go: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...terface-to-scan-850-billion-metadata-records/
 
AdladUK said:
How many times was it just reported that Google met with White House staff since Obama took office? 230?

Google are probably worse than Facebook if anything
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It's not the public facing meetings that are the problem. Many of the big US multinationals are on "our" side. People won't use thir services if they are seen to be in bed with government security apparatus and so they lobby a lot for the law to be changed for the better.

The problem is what goes on behind the scenes, that can't be made public. It's what the idea of the Warrant Canary is all about. It was implemented after a spate of secret warrants were found to be in place after the Snowdon Leaks.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary

Essentially now most big companies put a "no secret in place" in their transparency reports, meaning when a secret warrant is put in place they can remove it and (in theory) the fact a secret warrant has been served comes to light, without the company breaking the law by stating one is in place. Whether it actually works is debatable.
 
Amp34 said:
I think you're missing the point. Google are just as likely to hand over data as facebook, whether they want to or not. Both are large US multinationals that have to abide by what the NSA say (as opposed to the law) and will quite possibly face gag orders in the process.
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I don't think the NSA are interested in any of my data. If they want to bore themselves senseless, that is there look out.
 
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