printIn an interview with RT (Russia Today) Julian Assange claimed that Facebook “in particular, is the most appalling spying machine that has ever been invented. Here we have the world’s most comprehensive database about people, their relationships, their names, their addresses, their locations and the communications with each other, their relatives, all sitting within the United States, all accessible to US intelligence. Facebook, Google, Yahoo – all these major US organizations have built-in interfaces for US intelligence. It’s not a matter of serving a subpoena. They have an interface that they have developed for US intelligence to use.”
“Now, is it the case that Facebook is actually run by US intelligence? No, it’s not like that. It’s simply that US intelligence is able to bring to bear legal and political pressure on them. And it’s costly for them to hand out records one by one, so they have automated the process. Everyone should understand that when they add their friends to Facebook, they are doing free work for United States intelligence agencies in building this database for them.”
More than anything else Assange’s statement about the overweening nature of the American state. Most businesses capitulate for fear of prosecution.
It appears that the more the US government “knows”, the stupider it actually gets.
As for Assange or any other “Emmanuel Goldstein” (e.g. Enemy of the State), we have established the precedent that the US Government can just send in a Death Squad to anyplace on Earth, kill you (armed or not), dispose of your body, and then tell any story deemed worthy to release to the public if it chooses to do so. One might view this as ominous but we are too busy celebrating.
As for “privacy”, remember that “your Social Security” (really the government’s) information will never be used for the 430,255,919 uses that banks, companies, and governments use it for…..
One of the reasons why the country had more freedom in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was not because of the English or Dutch systems that allowed freedom; but, the lack of technology to take it away.
It seems the time to say “NO” is now.
Never was interested in Facebook or any of the others. Just say “NO” and stay in touch the old fashion way – email or telephone. Personally, I do not care how many times a day one’s dog farts.
As for OBL/UBL – whatever – it’s ok with me he’s become fish food because people I know and wife’s friends were reduced to ashes via this bastard’s efforts. Say “HELLO” to Neptune when he visits you, oh Soggy One!