|  | <<  
             ^ 
              >> 
            
              | Date: 2002-03-15 
 
 No Subject-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.-
 
 And let's not forget that this system isn't hardwired like it will be in
 Britain and other nations that don't enjoy as many protections
 against the state as we do in the 'good ole USA'.  At the least the
 FBI has to make some effort.
 
 As I pointed out to the audience, some of whom were sitting on the
 floor as every seat was taken, that "carnivore" really only effects a
 relatively small number of individuals as the bureau only has less
 than 20 machines in operation.  I also wondered out loud what the
 chances are that an ISP would tell their customers of the added
 bonus of having "carnivore" installed this month for their safety and
 convenience.  Next to zero I should think.
 
 As I thought of "carnivore" I reflexively mentioned that the real
 threat doesn't lie with the FBI, but rather with the filtering that goes
 on in our schools and libraries.  Censorware has got to be one of
 the most Orwellian concepts yet implemented.  Not only does the
 software not work as advertised, but when it does work it frequently
 filters out information of a political nature.  We should take a long
 hard look at allowing public school teachers and library bureaucrats
 to decide which thoughts students are "allowed" to think.
 Whatever happened to free inquiry? As currently set up most
 filtering applications won't even give students free access to
 publications as benign and factual as an Encyclopedia.  Students
 all across the country are being suspended and expelled for
 engaging in speech, having an unpopular opinion, or drawing a non-
 state approved item such as a gun in any form.
 
 But as I thought of the Internet in the great scheme of things I didn't
 and don't find the various governmental snoop programs to be that
 much of a worry.  The Internet is a flood of freedom, and despite
 the dire warnings and absurd inflations of leviathan power, the
 Internet has made us more free and given the state less power.
 And don't forget that you can and should use encryption if you're
 really worried about prying eyes.
 
 The state now has a real dilemma.  They can participate in a global
 free market economy using the Internet or they can shoot
 themselves in the head by restricting it's use.  Once technology is
 out of the bag, the genie can't be put back into the bottle, that is
 unless you want to create a third world nation for yourself.
 
 
 
 -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.-
 - -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.-
 edited by
 published on: 2002-03-15
 comments to office@quintessenz.at
 subscribe Newsletter
 - -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.-
 <<  
                   ^ 
                    >>
 |  |  |  |