-Caveat Lector- [from alt.conspiracy ----- I have received many enquiries about whether the first cypherpunk movie, Cryptic Seduction (crypticseduction.com) will be shown at the CFP conference. The producer just sent it to me and I will give it to the conf organizers possibly to show this evening. Be warned: It is sexually explicit -- as befits a movie about free speech. --Declan] ===== from: http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/18987.html <A HREF="http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/18987.html">Political News from Wired News </A> ----- Big Brother Taps the Bitstream by Declan McCullagh 3:00 a.m. 7.Apr.99.PDT WASHINGTON -- Bob Barr is an unlikely defender of civil liberties. A former federal prosecutor and fierce opponent of gay rights and abortion, he recently won national notoriety as a House floor manager who argued at length for impeachment. But on Tuesday, the staunch Georgia conservative showed up here at the Computers, Freedom, and Privacy conference to warn of the dangers of an overly intrusive government. Barr said that as the 19th century dawned, natural resources were vital to our country. A century later, it was financial resources. Now, he said, information "will represent power in the 21st century." He condemned the collection of information by both corporations and the government, and said that Congress needs to intervene. "We need to look for ways to make these issues nonpartisan," Barr said, advising the audience to become active in lobbying their legislators and federal agencies. Public outcry, he said, was what caused bank regulators to abandon the reviled "Know Your Customer" plan, as well as another scheme that would have led to a de facto national ID card. "The public was heavily involved." Other panelists described a growing trend toward global electronic monitoring, including the latest developments in the National Security Agency's surveillance system, first documented in James Bamford's The Puzzle Palace. Steve Wright from the UK-based Omega Foundation recounted his investigation into Echelon, an international network of highly sensitive listening posts operated in part by the supersecret NSA. The system taps 2 million calls an hour, Wright said, and has been the subject of an investigation by the European Parliament. The report will be released in two weeks. The Austrians have their own problems. A proposal that is nearly certain to become law will expand police surveillance capability to a level not seen since the Nazis, said Erich Moechel from Quintessenz. "They can wiretap according to this law ... without the order of an independent court," he said. And Russia? Forget about it. The country has already banned encryption software that can be used to shield sensitive information from prying eyes. More recently, the FSB -- the successor to the KGB -- has required Internet service providers to allow agents to monitor all communications . "[They] must maintain hardware, software, and a dedicated line to the local FSB department," Moechel said. The US government has required telephone companies to build in similar capabilities, though officials say surveillance will take place only with a court order. A representative from the US Department of Justice said that societies had to balance freedom with security. No surveillance at all would be fine, said Scott Charney, "if everyone were law abiding, but they're not." Charney, who heads the agency's computer crime unit, said the threats of child pornography, terrorism, and hackers like Kevin Mitnick mean technology should be restricted. One audience member asked whether Justice Department-backed restrictions on overseas encryption sales that keep encryption out of the hands of human rights workers in Kosovo can be justified. "You have to balance a lot of competing equities," Charney replied. The CFP conference continues through Thursday evening. Related Wired Links: Shaping Online Privacy 6.Apr.99 Know Your (Customer) Rights 30.Mar.99 Europe Is Listening 2.Dec.98 Spying on the Spies 27.Oct.98 Eavesdropping on Europe 30.Sep.98 Russia Ponders Net Snooping 21.Jul.98 Copyright � 1994-99 Wired Digital Inc. All rights reserved. ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
