Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program
From: "Flynn, Gary - flynngn" <flynngn () JMU EDU>
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2013 13:45:19 +0000
<personal opinion> I think if anyone expects the government to foil terrorism plots, such monitoring is necessary. There is certainly a substantial risk of abuse and scope creep but I don't see any realistic option. If terrorists are allowed to leverage today's technology unimpeded, there will be larger and more coordinated attacks. When something happens, people will ask "why didn't you know about that?". Our society is extremely vulnerable. If you cannot fix the vulnerabilities, you have to monitor and detect. Our freedom is our vulnerability so I don't think anyone wants to "fix" that. Some privacy may have to be sacrificed to preserve freedom. Scope creep is probably the primary threat. "We must monitor threats to the American way of life and our economy. We will add the following to the definition of terrorist - tobacco smugglers, DMCA violators, gun collectors, spam senders, and people who don't curb their dogs". There is a large gray area in the middle where I'm sure there will be constant disagreement and worries about who will watch the watchers. I don't like it. But I think it is necessary. </personal opinion> On 6/7/13 9:02 AM, "Kevin Halgren" <kevin.halgren () WASHBURN EDU> wrote:
For those of you already using Google or Microsoft cloud e-mail solutions, I'll be curious to hear the reactions on your campuses to this news. I believe the tech companies are telling the truth when they say they don't provide direct backdoor access into their systems and that the PRISM presentation may overstate the cooperation and capabilities of the system, however that doesn't preclude the government from abusing existing systems and capabilities e.g. those under CALEA lawful intercept capabilities. Kevin -- Kevin Halgren Assistant Director - Systems and Network Services Washburn University (785) 670-2341 kevin.halgren () washburn edu
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Current thread:
- Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Kevin Halgren (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Tim Doty (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Emery Rudolph (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Flynn, Gary - flynngn (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Manjak, Martin (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Mark Monroe (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Emery Rudolph (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Manjak, Martin (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Jesse Thompson (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Kevin Halgren (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Stockdale, Alan (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Emery Rudolph (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Emery Rudolph (Jun 07)
- Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program Tim Doty (Jun 07)