Screaming Libertine

Posts Tagged ‘big brother alert’

President Obama’s pick to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration raises a few red flags. If confirmed by the Senate, Chuck Hurley, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, will drive motorists over the cliff with regulation.

The nation’s traffic-safety czar has broad powers to control the roads and road-going habits of Americans. Mr. Hurley has a history of pushing laws that harass millions of law-abiding citizens to ensnare a few lawbreakers. He supports returning the 55 mph speed limit to our highways as well as roadblocks and random pullovers to make sure drivers aren’t doing anything wrong. This methodology is based on a presumption of guilt - not innocence - of the average driver who is doing nothing wrong.

This kind of appointment is truly disturbing. This is a guy who has spent years preaching reactionary policies. MADD supported the DUI conviction of a woman riding a horse, for fuck’s sake. I’ve often said we’d be better off riding horses again, since no matter how drunk you get…your horse will not run into another horse…or a tree…or anything else for that matter.

Drunk driving kills a lot of people and it’s always a tragedy. That fact does not mean that Orwellian enforcement tactics and the abuse of actual responsible citizens is justified.

I strongly suggest reading the original article at the Washington Times.

In addition to files relating to the aircraft, hackers gained entry into the Air Force’s air traffic control systems, according to the officials. Once they got in, the Internet hackers were able to see such information as the locations of U.S. military aircraft in flight.

Last week news came out indicating that the government would like to take control of private network security (because nothing could possibly go wrong there). This week we’ve got news that Lockheed Martin got hacked and hackers got access to a bunch of technical data regarding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The military has big plans for this particular plane, and is planning to deploy it in various versions to all branches of service.

The hackers got into “a major contractor” (presumably Lockheed Martin, as they were getting pressed for details), and “the information could be used to make the plane easier to fight or defend against.” A few lines later it seems that “the officials insisted that none of the information accessed was highly sensitive data.” It seems to me that information that makes the plane easier to kill would be sensitive data…silly me.

I’d like to see the government secure their own networks prior to having them tell my NOC how to operate. The fact that hackers could get into Lockheed and from there directly into military air traffic control is a pretty hefty breach.

Original Article at CNN

A recently proposed but little-noticed Senate bill would allow the federal government to shut down the Internet in times of declared emergency, and enables unprecedented federal oversight of private network administration.

My headline might be a little overdramatic, but if so it’s only by a little. Possibly the most disturbing part of the entire story is the following:

The bill would also impose mandates for designated private networks and systems, including standardized security software, testing, licensing and certification of cyber-security professionals.

So the federal government, which can barely keep up with understanding technology from the beginning of this decade, intends to take control of network security standards. It would be hard to overstate the potential disaster here. I’ll be keeping a careful eye on this one.

Original Article

The Maryland General Assembly yesterday gave final approval to a measure that will expand the use of speed cameras to every part of the state, allowing cameras on high-volume freeways for the first time… On a freeway that ordinarily has a 55 MPH speed limit, for example, citations would be issued to anyone driving 57 MPH in the lowered speed zone.

In addition, basically every amendment offered that would have put some accountability and control into this was rejected. There are so many reasons that this is going to be ridiculous. I truly feel bad for the people of Maryland. That’s right boys and girls, if you have a different size of tire on your vehicle than the factory put on there, you’d better drive your ass around Maryland. Maryland lawmakers, you fail at anything resembling reason and I hope you’re all recalled. I don’t think you have an appropriate appreciation for how pissed off your constituents are going to be when they start getting tickets for 2 mph over the limit. Enjoy the pitchforks and torches outside the capital.

Original Article

Law enforcement agencies are seeking scientists to develop an artificial nose that can detect the smell of fear as terrorists pass through security at airports.

Big Brother Alert

After a meeting of the glee club, during which it was revealed that Americans apparently still have some civil rights and privacy left, the man now wants a machine to smell your fear. Literally. Pheromone changes based on mood can be smelled by animals, and they want a handheld “sniffer” as a tool to persecute people who are “afraid” in airports. Of course they would only ever use it in the airports, right?  We can trust them…they’re the government.  Damn, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit typing that.

I should note that it’s not the entire government that I distrust.  Just the parts of it that are constantly trying to strip away another layer of privacy or another civil right every time they get the chance.  I’d love some Change.  How bout we change things back to before fear of terrorism…ONE terrorist attack, mind you…turned this country into a bunch of sheep willing to trade their rights for the illusion of some security?

This type of thing is positively Orwellian. They want to detect your emotions and then presumably treat you as a suspect based on them. And of course it will be accurate and effective. I mean, dealing with underpaid security guards who work in a hostile environment and have the power to cost you thousands in lost travel expenses isn’t intimidating for anyone.

Also, I hear that the same guys asking for these sniffers have declared that people are no longer afraid of flying…and that this little gem wouldn’t create rampant false positives because people are afraid of the device itself. What a great day for Justice!

Original Article